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Cornell University Library
DA 522.D51F75 1898
Two duchesses. Georgiana, Duchess j ol I Oev
3 1924 028 003 618
The original of this book is in
the Cornell University Library.
There are no known copyright restrictions in
the United States on the use of the text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028003618
THE TWO
DUCHESSES
(D&tizlefii, ('/ vJr.-i.
f/ur
THE TWO
DUCHESSES
GEORGIANA DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE
ELIZABETH DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE
FAMILY CORRESPONDENCE
OF AND RELATING TO
GEORGIANA DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE
ELIZABETH DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE
EARL OF BRISTOL (Bishop of Derry)
THE COUNTESS OF BRISTOL
LORD AND LADY BYRON
THE EARL OF ABERDEEN
SIR AUGUSTUS FOSTER Bart
AND OTHERS
1777—1859
EDITED BY
VERE FOSTER
LONDON
BLACKIE & SON Limited
GLASGOW AND DUBLIN
1898
ty^a^s
PREFACE.
I have given to this book the title of The Two Duchesses,
because its contents are mainly composed of poetry and
correspondence written by, or to, one or other of the two
last Duchesses of Devonshire, one of whom, Georgiana, was
daughter of John, Earl Spencer, and the other, Elizabeth,
was daughter of Frederick Augustus Hervey, fourth Earl of
Bristol, and Bishop of Derry.
These two ladies were inseparable companions, and lived
under the same roof for nearly a quarter of a century.
They travelled together in Switzerland and Italy; Georgiana,
usually referred to as the beautiful Duchess, writing an
account of their travels in verse addressed to her children,
and pieces of poetry addressed to her friend, while Eliza-
beth illustrated Georgiana's poetical narrative by numerous
landscape paintings of her own composition. Georgiana
died in 1806, and Elizabeth became the second wife of the
fifth Duke of Devonshire in 1809, and died in 1824.
In the Dictionary of National Biography, of which valu-
able work fifty-two volumes are already published, the fol-
lowing description of Georgiana is attributed to Horace
Walpole, whom Sir Walter Scott declared to be the best
letter-writer in the English language: "She effaces all with-
out being a beauty ; but her youthful figure, flowing good-
nature, sense and lively modesty, and modest familiarity,
make her a phenomenon ". And in the same work are the
vi THE TWO DUCHESSES.
following statements regarding Elizabeth. In early life
she married John Thomas Foster, M.P., of Stonehouse,
County Louth. They (Georgiana and Elizabeth) tra-
velled together at different times on the Continent. On
one of these occasions, in 1787, they met Edward Gibbon,
the historian, at Lausanne. He had then just finished his
History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. He
read to Lady Elizabeth Foster some of the concluding pass-
ages, "and her admiration was so warmly expressed that
Gibbon suddenly surprised her by an offer of his hand.
The offer was declined, but Gibbon took the disappoint-
ment philosophically, and, while his estimate of her fascina-
tions remained as high as ever, his friendly feelings towards
her underwent no change. Comparing her with the first
Duchess, he writes: 'Bess is much nearer the level of a
mortal, but a mortal for whom the wisest man, historic or
medical, would throw away two or three worlds if he had
them in possession '. He also gave it as his opinion that,
' if she chose to beckon the Lord Chancellor from his wool-
sack in full sight of the world, he could not resist obedience'.
In 1809 sne became the second wife of the fifth Duke of
Devonshire, and, after the death of her husband, she took
up her residence in Rome, where she enjoyed the friendship
of some of the most distinguished Italians and foreign resi-
dents, and her house became the great resort of the brilliant
society gathered together in Rome from all countries.
Ticknor relates that he went to her ' conversaziones as to a
great exchange to see who is in Rome, and to meet what is
called the world '. . . . She spent large sums in exca-
vations at the Forum, and with considerable success, and
she was one of the most liberal patrons of the fine arts.
PREFACE.
vn
Canova and Thorwaldsen were her personal friends." "The
portrait of the Duchess when Lady Elizabeth Foster was
painted by both Sir Joshua Reynolds and Gainsborough.
A portrait by the latter was stolen in 1876 from the Bond
Street gallery of Messrs. Agnew, who had purchased it
shortly before from the Wynn Ellis collection." This is
probably a mistake, for I believe it was a portrait, not of
Elizabeth, but of the beautiful Duchess, Georgiana.
There is also a full-length portrait of Elizabeth by Sir
Thomas Lawrence in possession of Sir Vere Foster, Bart,
at Glyde Court, County Louth.
A representation of the two Duchesses linked together in
a medallion appears on page xii of this book, and I have
added a multiple likeness of Georgiana represented in the
character of Pharaoh's daughter, accompanied by fifteen of
her attendants, all engaged in the finding and fondling of
the infant Moses. The picture was painted and engraved
by J. K. Sherwin in 1789.
The letters quoted in the correspondence are mainly
written by the following persons: —
Frederick Augustus Hervey, Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry, to
his daughter, Lady Elizabeth Foster.
The Countess of Bristol to her daughter, Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Lady Elizabeth Foster, afterwards Duchess of Devonshire, to her
son, Augustus Foster.
Augustus Foster, afterwards the Right. Hon. Sir Augustus J.
Foster, Bart., to his mother.
The Earl of Aberdeen to Augustus Foster.
Lord Byron to Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Lady Byron to Vere Foster, third son of Sir Augustus Foster,
and compiler of this correspondence.
Vlii THE TWO DUCHESSES.
The Hon. Mrs. George Lamb to Augustus Foster.
Frederick Thos. Foster to his younger brother, Augustus Foster.
There are also single letters written by Gibbon ; Sheridan ;
Fox; the Prince Regent; General Moreau; Alexander,
Emperor of Russia, to Madame Moreau; Canova; Thor-
waldsen ; Baron d'Armfelt; and Count Capo d'Istrias, Presi-
dent of the Greek Republic.
I give in an Appendix some particulars culled from
reliable sources about the Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Deny,
Sir Augustus Foster, and Lord Aberdeen, who, next to
Lady Elizabeth Foster, afterwards Duchess of Devonshire,
are the principal parties in the correspondence here pub-
lished.
The biography of Lord Byron is so well known that I
would think it an impertinence to offer any information on
the subject beyond the three letters addressed by himself
to my grandmother; and I do not feel at liberty to publish
anything about Lady Byron, except as regards the episode
connected with my father's attachment to her prior to the
advances of Lord Byron, and the few interesting letters
addressed by her to myself.
The attachment here referred to, which met with the full
approval of Sir Ralph and Lady Milbanke, as stated in the
Duchess Elizabeth's letters to my father, came to my
knowledge as a surprise, and will probably be new to all
my readers.
Gibbon's letter to my grandmother is printed here by
kind permission of Mr. John Murray, and I am requested
by the Earl of Lovelace, grandson of Lord Byron, to state
that the letters of Lord and Lady Byron are here published
with the full consent of their representatives.
PREFACE. IX
In conclusion, I should mention that none of these letters
have ever been published before, except a very few which
appeared a few months ago in an Irish provincial news-
paper, the Belfast Northern Whig, and that the present
occasion of their publication arises from the fact that I have
recently had access to a mass of family correspondence of
which I was previously unaware, dated mostly about the
end of the last and commencement of the present century.
As the Duchesses moved, Georgiana for more than twenty,
and Elizabeth for upwards of forty years, in the highest
circles of society in London, Paris, and Rome, and were
intimate with many eminent persons, and a great number
of these letters relate to memorable contemporary events
and subjects of public interest, I have copied some entire
and made extracts from others, and, with the kind per-
mission of my grandnephew, Sir Vere Foster, and encour-
aged by the very favourable reception of the letters already
referred to, I have at the special request of many friends
put them in print, adding notes of my own as to dates, and
in explanation, where apparently required, of the text.
Owing to illegible writing, to fading of ink, to the torn
and fragmentary state of much of the correspondence, and
to the absence of dates in hundreds of cases, it has been
found very difficult to preserve continuity, and I must claim
the indulgence of my readers for such mistakes as they
may discover.
VERE FOSTER.
Belfast, December, 1897.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page
The Two Duchesses, xii
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire (from a print), - Frontis.
The Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry, and his Daugh-
ter, Lady Erne, 2
Mary (Hervey), Lady Erne, 43
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire (after Gainsborough), 84
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire (after Romney), 96
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, and Child (after
Reynolds), 105
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire (from a painting), 132
Louisa (Hervey), Lady Hawkesbury, 15°
Sir Augustus Foster, Bart., 154
The Earl of Aberdeen, 185
The Finding of Moses — Duchess Georgiana and other
Ladies, 278
Lord Hawkesbury (second Earl of Liverpool), 317
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire (after Sir T. Lawrence), 340
The Hon. Mrs. George Lamb, 373
Lady Albinia Foster, 411
Vere Foster, - 466
THE TWO DUCHESSES
The Hon. Mrs. Hervey1
To Mrs. John Thomas Foster?
Brussels, June 6, 1777.
Voici deja vendredi et je ne fais que prendre mon
ecritoire pour la premiere fois depuis que ma chere fille
m'a quitte. Mais pourquoi enfrancais dit Monsieur
le sage3? C'est vrai mais il a coule de ma plume toute-
fois comme je n'ai point besoin de vous dire des chases.
I may in plain English tell you a plain truth, that I
love you with all my heart, that I think of you con-
tinually, and that your whole conduct since your
marriage has given me the most perfect satisfaction.
Don't misinterpret this expression: it does not mean
the most distant censure on your behaviour before it;
but the 16th of December* is your grand epocha, and
may you date from it, dear Bess, every possible
happiness. I shall be impatient to hear you did not
suffer materially by the heat, fatigue, and distress of
1 The Hon. Mrs. Hervey — Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Jermyn Davers, Bart., and
wife of the Hon. Frederick Hervey, Bishop of Derry, d. 1800.
2 Mrs. J. Th. Foster— Daughter of the Bishop of Derry and Mrs. Hervey, d. 1824.
3 Monsieur le Sage— An allusion to Mrs. Hervey's son-in-law, J. Th. Foster,
M.P., d. 1796.
li6th of December— -Date of Mrs. Foster's marriage in 1776.
A
3 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
the first day. The rain and change of air we flatter
ourselves made the second more pleasant, and this
very night, perhaps, or to-morrow, you will breathe
the pure air of your own dear country. I have been
so mauled by the suffocating heat here that I have
not been able to stir off the couch these two days;
but I hope to get out this morning, and Monday the
9th is fixed on for our going to Antwerp. I find your
sister1 writes by this post, so I shall not touch upon
the la rue des etoiles, and I could almost forbear to
say anything myself (out of economy, that a packet of
foreign letters may not add to your continental ex-
penses), but that I have a mind to meet you in London
and show you that my heart and mind are with you,
but I expect you to rely upon this and not to expect
frequent repetitions. You will have a thousand new
objects, and I the important one of preparing and
removing ourselves. Whilst Mary is here, too, I
know she will mention us. When we separate I
will try to make you amends. Your father continues
to complain and do nothing, but I think a journey
will soon set him all right. Assure Mr. Foster of
my sincere affection. He loves you too well for me
not to feel a true regard for him, and I flatter myself
that a well-founded esteem and perfect harmony will
subsist amongst us all as long as we live. Adieu.
Je vous sers sur mon cceur, and I repeat to you to
take care of yourself, and above all to be at home in
time. Remember what I said of & false calculation,
and avoid its consequences. Present my compliments
'your sister— Mary, Countess of Erne, eldest daughter of the Bishop of Derrv
d. 1842. ''
/7L/ry. -J ;/>/// C •/>-//
■
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 3
to Doctor Foster,1 and obey as well as love. Your
most affectionate mother.
Louisa2 sends a thousand loves.
The Hon. Mrs. Hervey
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
Liege, June 22, 1777.
I am afraid my dear Bess will think I have made
a long interval between my first and second letter.
I feel it so myself, but as I knew Lady Erne wrote
as punctually as if she had nothing else to do, I
contented myself with doing everything else without
writing, and indeed I found the business and the
civilities belonging to our departure quite enough
for me; however, I thank God, here I am tolerably
well, and the journey thus far delightful, having
your sister still with me, but we are drawing towards
the moment of separation, which must be endured.
Miss Creightons were received into the Convent
yesterday in form, with all the black things hovering
about them, but we are all vastly pleased with their
present situation; they are well lodged as to con-
veniency, cleanliness and air, have a room and two
little beds to themselves, a garden, a view to the
country, and the cheerfulness of a great many
pensioners, who seem perfectly well attended to.
^Doctor Foster— Thomas Foster, D.D., Rector of Dunleer, father of J. Th.
Foster (1709-1784).
2 Louisa— Louisa Hervey, youngest daughter of the Bishop of Derry, married
afterwards to the second Earl of Liverpool, d. 1821.
4 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
The house is five stories high, and they carried us
into every part of it, and nothing in Holland was
ever cleaner.
Monday, the 23rd. Your sister and I were up
this morning by six o'clock in order to go and make
a visit to a Mrs. Bond, a cousin, at about 115 miles
distance, but as I sent an express yesterday to give
her notice of it, fearing to appear abruptly before an
infirm woman of eighty, she just now has sent to
decline it on account of her health, which mortifies
me extremely, as I had a high opinion of her sense,
manners, and excellence of mind.
Lord Erne was so good as to propose himself that
Mary might go with me. I hope we shall keep to-
gether to-day notwithstanding our disappointment,
but to-morrow, I fear, must be the day of execution,
and poor Dodd1 scarce dreads it more, for now I am
bereaved of my children, and even little Benjamin
cannot make up the loss — a propos, think of Louisa's
being ready to stay in the Convent, and being quite
at her ease amongst the nuns, and singing both
English and French to them. The Lady Abbess
is a cousin Of Mr. Dennel's, and very like him, less
fine, but a more soft, benign angelic countenance.
And now, my dear love, let me thank you for your
letter from Bethune, and assure you of the pleasure
I receive from every mark and expression of your
affection to me. We all do you the justice to believe
that you or Mr. F. wrote on your arrival at Dover
1 Dodd— The Rev. Wm. Dodd, LL.D., author of "Beauties of Shakespeare"
and "Reflections on Death", found guilty of forgery and executed. His case
created a great sensation at the time (1729-1777).
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 5
and London, but your letters did not arrive from
either place, and the delightful news of your being
safe and well in London came accidentally from L.
M. Fitz. Since that your father has received one,
and you will easily imagine how we have all rejoiced
in your welfare, amusement, and good luck in finding
so many of your relations together. I must, before
I forget it, tell you that your maid's letters to Joseph
have been constant, so I suppose she has more care
in putting them into the post-office than your other
servants. As your stay in London was so pre-
carious I will direct this to Bury, as my brother1
can frank it to you if you should have left. I
cannot yet give you that to Pyrmont,2 but when
I can find it out you shall have it. Pray always
mention your health and how you go on, describe
your meeting with Doctor F., tell me where you
have been and are to go, and in general everything
which belongs to you down to your watch. I had
intended the foldings3 for Mr. F., but since I have
run into them unawares, I beg you will thank him. in
my name for his little scribble, which was very wel-
come to me, but his constant and kind attention to
you I shall never forget— assure him of it and of
my sincere affection. Adieu. The Padre's4 blessing
1 my brother — Sir Charles Davers, Bart.
2 Pyrmont — A noted mineral spring in the north-west of Germany, Principality
of Waldeck- Pyrmont.
3 the foldings — Portions of the paper folded in so as to serve as an envelope.
Before the inauguration of national penny postage there was a separate postage for
every separate piece of paper under a quarter of an ounce weight, and therefore
both letter and address were usually written on the same piece of paper, which was
so folded as to leave a blank space for the address, but when weight alone regulated
the postage, in the year 1840, envelopes came into use.
4 The Padre — The Bishop of Deny. See Appendix.
THE TWO DUCHESSES.
and the love of this party attend ye both. Ever
your affectionate mother.
The Ministers did not quit us to the last, and
a petit soupe, with a Harp and arrSter sous cet
ombrage was our parting.
The Hon. Mrs. Hervey
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
Pyrmont, July 15, 1777-
My dear Elizabeth, though I have been as good
as my word in not writing to you, my thoughts have
accompanied you through your several journeys,
meetings, &c, and I also guarded as well as I could
against any anxiety which you might have on my
account by desiring my sister1 to inform you of my
welfare, which, I thank God, has been uninterrupted
by any material accident. I found your letter here
on my arrival on the 5 th, which gave me great
pleasure. Your expedition to London seems to
have fully answered in point of amusement, and to
have exceeded our expectation in your reception in
the family, which is doubly satisfactory. I see, too,
with content, that you have not forgot my friends,
and I flatter myself that you have made them yours.
I entirely approve of your going first to Sh.2 with
Dr. F., and wish that he remained in England to
carry you over with him, for though you seem to
intend being in time, I know the young jf's3 are
1 my sister — Mrs. Greene.
^Sh. — Sheffield Place or Park in Sussex, country seat of Lord Sheffield.
3 the young ff' 's— A playful designation of Mr. and Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 7
dreadfully irresolute, and I should depend more
upon the old one.
I daresay you have had a little notice before this,
but if not (for it is very weak in some people), do
not be tempted to retard your journey. A propos,
I hope you will remember that you have many
necessary things to provide, but don't do it without
a person of prudence to advise you, for finery and
expense in these matters is very ridiculous for a
private station. I am glad to find your health is
at all better, but your account of yourself is not
altogether satisfactory. I hope you are attentive
to take your pills, and to prevent your being over-
heated; that you do not exercise too -much, or sit up
very late; as to the rest you must arm yourself with
fortitude against a time which I hope will be of as
little suffering as possible, and that abundantly made
amends for by the fruit of it. As to unwieldiness,
nobody ever heard or talked of such a thing in the
first instance, not even dear poppy; you cannot be
pince, to be sure, any longer, but I advise you, when
you are a mother, to be one in good earnest.
Your second letter from Sheffield is arrived, for
which I thank you, and your father commissions
me to assure you that his silence does not proceed
from want of affection, which is as cordial as ever to
you, but from a rambling life first, and then from
the inability which these waters give to all reason-
able employment. I am now transgressing positive
orders, but I hope to come off for a red nose, whereas
others pay the heavier tax of a headache. He has
drunk these waters nine days, and I think with
8 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
great benefit, which would be still greater if the
weather was not worse than ever you saw it even
in Derry; constant rain, and dirt, and puddle, and
yet in spite of all he is well and cheerful, and the
gouty pains fly before them. The lounging life
agrees with him also, and he finds great amuse-
ment from the company's being quite new to him.
Our Princess of Brunswick1 is here, and vastly good
to us. We dine with her quite en famille. Two of
the Queen's brothers, too (one with his Princess),
the Prince Augustus of Saxe Gotha, and many
people of rank with whom one lives upon the easiest
terms; the Prince of Waldeck2 (who is Prince of the
territory), vastly obliging, too, and all speak a little
French. We have regulated our hours to theirs,
and breakfast little, dine at half an hour after 12,
sup between 8 and 9, and go to bed by ten. I
have not yet said a word of myself, but 1 think you
will not be contented without it, and I can with
truth say that I feel better and stronger than I did
before I came. I now and then pass an agreeable
hour with somebody that I discover to my taste,
and I have no material complaint. The village is
very pretty. There are lovely walks by the well,
and the country is very picturesque, but the roads
by which we came were so dangerous that we do
not care to return the same way. I believe it will
be difficult to find any that are good, but many
schemes are in agitation. The hereditary Princess
wants us to go by Brunswick. She may possibly
1 Our Princess of Brunswick — Augusta, sister of G«orge III.
2 Waldeck — The sovereign principality of Waldeck-Pyrmont.
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 9
be the reigning Princess by that time, as the Duke1
is dangerously ill, but what we shall determine on
is quite uncertain.
I thank you, my dear love, most tenderly for
your dear little present by La. M., and am very
sorry I did not stay long enough to receive it. I
am in hopes of a letter soon from Bury with an
account of your having spent your time very
happily at Sheffield2 amongst friends toute faite,
and some of them at least to your taste. What
a wilderness the world is without them, and how
I miss you and your sister every day and every
hour. We have no news yet from Canada.3 Louisa
sends her kindest love to you. I have been unlucky
about a governess, for that Aigle would not come
at last. Scott was a little piqued, but behaved
vastly well in the end, and has come with us,
making the best of all difficulties, and serving as
interpreter through Westphalia. Adieu, my dear
child, my best affection to Mr. F.,* and your father's
blessing to you both. He says he will write to you,
but don't be uneasy if he does not. I hope f.6 con-
tinues well, happy, and satisfied. I believe Mr.
Gifford has at last a living; he wrote your father
a letter of J lines only to notify the vacancy with-
out asking for it. Dearest Bess, I am your most
affectionate mother. I know nothing yet of Mary,
but that she has got a lodging to her mind.
1 the Duke— Duke of Brunswick.
2 Sheffield— That is Sheffield Place. See note, p. 6.
Zfrom Canada— From Capt. Hervey, R.N., eldest son of the Bishop of Derry,
married to Elizabeth Drummond of Quebec, d. 1796.
*Mr. F.— Thomas Foster, D.D. (1709-1784).
•/— ; J. Th. Foster, d. 1796.
10 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
The Hon. Mrs. Hervey
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
Pyrmont, July 30, 1777.
My dear child, I received your letter of the 13th
from Sheffield Place yesterday, and am extremely
concerned to find that you have had so much appre-
hension on my account. I had warned you against
expecting frequent letters, and the constant change
of place on your side as well as ours has been a
great hindrance to our correspondence. What can
have interrupted your sister's active mind and pen I
can't guess, but it ought not to have increased your
alarm, because as we were not together it could not
arise from the cause you suspected. I fear, my dear
Bess, that you have inherited your mother's anxious
temper about those you love, but conjure you, by
the well-known suffering of it, to struggle hard
against it while you have youth and spirits to do so,
and to incline as much as you are able to the best
side of every object. You have, I hope, long before
this received the letter I directed to Bury, either
there or elsewhere. I meant it to secure the satis-
faction to you, by which I fear I delayed it, but as
you will find by it how perfectly free we have been
from all accidents fdcheux I hope you will be more
backward for the future to suspect them. The
posts seem to be very ill regulated, too, and your
letter from Dover of the 9th of June came only two
days sooner than that of the 13th of July, but when
once we are in Italy and you in Ireland we shall
have a more regular intercourse.
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. II
We are to leave this place about the 8th or ioth,
and go re Frankfort, and perhaps to Mayence, and
so embark on the Rhine, and carry Malle- to Cologne,
to put her en pays de Conoissance on her way to
Brussels. This will give us an opportunity of pull-
ing down that river for so far, by seeing the finest
part of its banks. We shall take our carriages and
come back by land, and so proceed to Frankfort
again, Darmstadt, Manheim, Spier, Stutgard, Ulm,
Augsbourg, Munich, Inspruck, Trent, Verona. This
route through Germany will be new to us, and we
hope besides to be in time to drink the waters of Val
d'Agno1 for three weeks. They are something like
those which have agreed most wonderfully with
your father and done some good to me also. His
gout is drove away, and he is the life of the com-
pany: he has had but one drawback, by a slight
fever brought on by cold, but which he has thor-
oughly recovered.
We are now reduced to a very small company
here. Our Princess and her train set out for
Brunswick to-day, which is a great blow, for there
was real satisfaction and comfort in her company
— a thing not very common with Princes or Princ-
esses. There have been no English except our-
selves and Col. Faucit, who is the negotiator for the
foreign troops now in our pay. Hot-hot ' s brother
is come for a few days, and is grown a quiet, good
boy. Lord Bessborough2 is here, too, who can never
1 Val d'Agno — A mineral spring in the north of Italy, often mentioned sub-
sequently.
2 Lord Bessborough— -Wm. Ponsonby. second Earl of Bessborough and Viscount
Duncannon (1704-1793)
12 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
grow better or worse or other than he is. It is in-
credible what nonsense he talks. People listen and
laugh; cela lui suffit, he puts it all down to his
credit, and stands like a mountebank with a circle
round him, which he entertains with marvellous
things much in the same style.
I am glad to find you have passed your time
so pleasantly, my dear love, and that your health
is mended, of which I hope you have a proper
care, and that you do not only intend but deter-
mine to be in Ireland by the very beginning of
September. Remember, you have to settle yourself
and to provide many things. I have not been able
to learn whether Nurse Wilkinson stays for you
in Dublin, but I hope so, to prevent the hazard
of her going back and returning. I hope there
will be no objection to her manner of nursing,
as you seem to wish it, and I am certain she
is too honest a woman not to tell you if by any
weakness in the child a breast should be necessary,
which is sometimes the case. N. Byrne, you know,
is engaged for yourself, and I advise you to use the
hartshorn and oil with hare-skins, as I did, to backen
your milk, and remember your promise of guarding
your breast from cold on your recovery and first
going out, which will be in cold weather. I don't
much approve of riding, except you had begun it
sooner, but that is now over. I am glad the infanta
is so lively, but I shall chide you if you become a
mother so tristement. I had reckoned upon your
feeling the full value of it, and I still think that
when your fears are over you will think you are
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 13
well paid for your pains. I have ever thought so,
and I hope my dear child's children will not de-
generate. At all events, if you find it too early a
care I am ready to take it off your hands. When
I return next year send the dear little creature to
me with its nurse, and I will make it as hardy and
active as a Magilligan kid. As to names, il faut
phis de menagement: one of ours first, if you please,
but don't put in too much of the same ingredient.
D. F.'s present was very handsome, and what is
better, very kind. I think you judge perfectly well
about the trimming, which is proper, handsome, and
lasting.
Your father bids me assure you of his truest,
warmest affection: he received your long letter, but
the waters have prevented his writing: he says
when we are settled that we must take it by turns,
and that you shall hear from us every fortnight.
Adieu, my dear child. Louisa sends you a thousand
loves, and longs for her nephew. My sincere affec-
tion to Mr. F.; pray mention his health. I will
direct my next to Dunleer, and will write as we go
on, but remember to allow for the failure of letters,
which is very frequent. Adieu once more. I am
very well, and most truly your affectionate mother.
14 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
The Hon. the Bishop of Deny
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
Pyrmont, July 30, 1777.
Your mother and I, my dearest Elizabeth, have
at last agreed to atone for our long silence by-
writing to you alternately every week, and as she
is a little occupied at present and I not at all (unless
drinking waters comme un enrage may be so called),
I have spontaneously taken upon myself to become
the periodical tatler for this time, and to tell you
that we are all well and the better for this Helicon
of health. Your mother, very fortunately, found
upon her arrival Dr. Closius — don't imagine this
singular name either an abridgment or a translation
of Close: st., whatever affinity there may be between
his profession and his title. Such a trouvaille
immediately quieted the lady's nerves, and prepared
her admirably for the waters, which were deemed
specifick for her.
The next question was with regard to company,
and in that, too, we were fortunate, for there was
no canaille, little bourgeoisie, and some persons,
not only of great distinction, but of excellent
dispositions; and the great parity that is main-
tained here among all persons gives this little place
a spirit of elegant but easy republicanism that is
very pleasing, and I am sure contributes much to
the salutariness of the waters, and of course to the
recovery of the patients. At the head of this motlev
society of princes, peers, and citizens stands the
FROM THE HON. THE BISHOP OF DERRY. 1 5
amiable, the generous, the spirited, the learned
prince of the country, the prince of Waldeck,
about a stone's throw from the well. He has a
soi-disant castle, but a very comfortable casino,
built on a eminence which commands a most
beautiful country of wood, water, meadow, and
hill to a great extent, but to a much greater
variety than ever I saw. Here he entertains dur-
ing a month or three weeks every person succes-
sively who either can or cannot entertain him,
females alone excepted, for as he is not married
he claims an exemption — I am sorry to call it so —
from that trouble. This is our commander-in-chief,
but our principal citizen in this miscellaneous re-
publick is our Princess Augusta, hereditary princess
of Brunswick, with whom we have lived more than
with any other person whatever, and from whom we
part with a proportionate regret. Her husband
came for a few days, but he is of a different char-
acter from his wife, more proud, less liant, ruse,
some say false, very debauched, but with a kind
of decency, and gave no tokens of it here. Graces
aux tempeVamens delabres et epuis^s qui s'y trou-
vent. Among the crowd are expatriated prime
ministers, exhausted ministers of the gospel,
Lutherans, Calvinists, Hernhuters, Jews, Greeks,
&c, who altogether form a good savoury oglio of
society, especially as one can pick out of the dish
such pieces as are too luscious or too hard for one's
stomach, or even such as do not suit one's palate.
As to the Place, it is magical. There are two large
and long avenues, flanked on each side with lesser,
1 6 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
which are deemed the shilling gallery of Pyrmont,
a part for servants. At the end of each of these
avenues, which cut each other at right angles, is
a decent octagon building which incloses the most
salubrious of the most generally efficacious waters
perhaps in all Europe. At the back of these
avenues a triple range of buildings as singular in
their appearance and yet at least as necessary in
their use as the octagon itself, and which are cal-
culated to receive these salubrious waters after they
have filtrated through all the different vessels which
have received them. The avenues are flanked on
each side with shops, not very brilliant indeed, but
by means of bath apartments said to be very con-
venient, and in the middle is a long salon where are
public breakfasts, dinners, dancings, cards, concerts,
and almost all the uses to which the ark of Noe
could be put. Such is our situation here, where we
shall remain ten days more. From hence into dear
Italy once more, to drink the waters of Valdagno
and winter at Pisa. Adieu. Be sure not to take
the long voyage if you remain late in England; your
stomach cannot bear it, and you will fall into the
equinoxes. My blessings to your husband.
The Hon. the Bishop of Derry
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
Pyrmont, August 7, 1777.
I am just run home from the walks, my dear
Elizabeth, to tell you that our journey for Italy is
FROM THE HON. THE BISHOP OF DERRY. 1 7
decided, and that we have the additional satisfaction
of carrying with us the Prince of Saxe Gotha, one
of those few men who unite familiarity with dignity
and science, knowledge, &c, with politeness. We
have taken violently to each other; he is to meet us
at Frankfort, and from thence he says nous irons au
Paradis sur les ailes de 1'amitie. On Monday we
begin this violent operation. You may trace us on
the map to Cassel, Frankfort, Mayence, from thence
we embark on the Rhine, descend it as far as
Cologne by water, and return by land to Mayence,
thence to Manheim, Immortal Stutgard, aussi sur
que je m'appelle Charles, and so on to Ulm, Augs-
burg, Munich, Inspruck, Trent, and dear Verona.
Don't I write like a child upon this subject, yet no
wonder, when the very prospect of seeing such a
country revives and rajeunit; your mother, too, is
greatly reconciled to it, and only dreads the pene-
trating too deep into it, but it is absolutely necessary
that she should winter where there is no winter.
She will, besides, have the advantage of drinking
the waters of Valdagno both in going and returning,
and nothing can be more decided than that we shall
return to these superexcellent waters; none can be
composed with more suitable materials for relaxed
constitutions, or for slow circulation of juices. Iron,
nitre in small quantities, and a large portion of
vitriol or fixed air constitute this salubrious spring;
'tis beyond belief efficacious. May you, my dear
child, never want to try them, or if you should, may
you never miss to do so. Your mother is marvel-
lously well, walks for above four hours in the day,
1 8 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
is cheerful, sings, and enjoys the place in spite of
its present solitariness. Adieu, my dear child; my
head is so dizzy I can write no more; my love to
your husband. Send for the mare home, as she
risques being hurt by the others, being the weakest.
The Hon. Mrs. Hervey
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
Manheim, August 25, 1777.
My dear Bess, though I wrote to you only a
few days ago from Frankfort, yet, as I flatter myself
that you are at this moment on the march to Dublin
Je me fais un vrai plaisir ma chere d'aller au devant
de vous et de nous feliciter de votre arrivde. As it
cannot be in person we must be contented with its
being by proxy, and I hope you will not let your
spirits sink on account of this unavoidable separa-
tion. All essential points are settled already, you
know, by me for your safety and comfort, and
though a mother is not easily replaced, yet I hope
you will have such an accession of friends as will
make her care and presence unnecessary.
We got here last night from Mentz, where I
staid two or three days to wait for your father,
who took the opportunity of going down the river
as far as Coblentz, as the scenery there has been
so much admired. He had the finest weather
imaginable for it, and returned satisfied, but not
enchanted; in fact, I think the banks, wherever I
have seen them, too low to be very fine. I had
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 19
intended myself this amusement, but he did not
think the boats commodious enough for me, nor the
road back by land sufficiently good, so I was obliged
to give it up.
Take care of your health, my dear Bess, in time;
one becomes a sad burthen to oneself from the want
of it. The heat, dust, and fatigue of the journey
has unravelled great part of the web wove at
Pyrmont, and I have been drooping like a new
planted cabbage for some days past. However,
thanks to some rain, a few grains of I powder, and
change of air, I am refreshed, and begin to hold up
my head; the weather is fine, the heat moderate,
the air seems good, and the town appears a perfect
bijou. I am going out to examine it, and will tell
you more at my return. Adieu.
Manheim is a vrai bijou ; its situation, though
flat, is beautiful, almost an island by means of the
Rhine and Neckar, over which there are yet but
convenient bridges, but when the devastations of
the French in the Palatinate are better recovered,
and that they are converted into ornaments, it will
compleat the scene. The ramparts are pleasant
walks which command these rivers, beyond which
is a small plain bounded with very picturesque
mountains. The town is, great part of it, new
built, the streets are perfectly regular and broad,
some planted in two rows for a walk in the middle,
and a place or two very well laid out; the houses
are tires au cordon, and though the fronts are not
uniform, this regularity of the line, together with
a neat plaister they are covered with, some
20 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
German ornaments and jalousies, give a general
elegance in the appearance which is very pleasing.
The Elector's1 Palace is an immense building, but
there is no good architecture or ornament. A
grandeur and magnificence from the extent, and
a fine prospect of the river and country from the
back front; these are its merits. In the precincts
of the Palace are also an Opera House, Tennis
Court, Riding House, Library, and various collec-
tions of antiquities and natural curiosities in different
cabinets.
We are waiting for our Prince, whom we expect
every minute. In the meantime we have a very
good apartment, with a large room which looks on
the Place d'Armes, the prettiest spot in the town.
Besides the cheerfulness of its being the parade,
you may imagine that your father amuses himself
very well here in the midst of these collections, and
in sight at least of the mountains to which we
are going. The Court are out of town, and we
have not been in any society. He has seen and
liked the French Minister (who is an Irishman),
and last night an Excellence, something hausen,
who is the Elector's Minister, sat with us for two
hours. He is monstrously partial to the English,
laments their present situation, and seems to be a
sensible, well-minded man. The conversation turned
chiefly on politics, on which, as you may imagine,
I took little share; but when he got up to go away,
the ceremonial was singular enough, with a permettez
1 The Elector — The Elector of the Rhenish Palatinate in which the town of
Pyrmont was situated.
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 21
moi, Madame, de vous baiser la main (he repeated
the baiser quick, and I believe as frequent as 20),
saying jusqu'a cent fois. It was quite new to me,
and I was almost ready to laugh, but I can conceive
the scene to be sometimes more embarrassing.
C'etoit un bon Papa avec un presque Grandmama,
but I am not clear that little slimness1 would have
been easy with such a liberty towards his wife, even
from Nestor.
We have still very hot weather, but I am much
reconciled by rest. What I regret most is that I
cannot hear from my children till I get to Verona.
I hope to hear there what time you were to be
at home, and then to believe you arrived. Adieu,
my dear child; my best affection to f.1 Let me
know exactly how you are circumstanced, and tell
him I don't doubt but he will give me early and
frequent news of you when you are confined. Re-
member you must not use your eyes. Tell N. W.
I love her, and trust in her care, and give, her
Louisa's love, which she will like better. She is
perfectly well, and minds neither heat nor fatigue.
My compliments to Doctor F. Ever, my dear
child, your most affectionate mother. Your father
and Louisa send their best affection to you and
Betsy.
1 little slimness — Playful reference to Mr. J. Th. Foster.
22 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
The Bishop of Derry and Mrs. Hervey
To Mrs. J. Tli. Foster.
Augsburg, Sept. 5, 1777.
Here we are, my dear child, in great spirits, and
in the company, I will not say of the most agreeable
Prince, because that is almost a contradiction in
terms, but of one of the most agreeable men I
almost ever met — I mean the Prince Augustus of
Saxe-Gotha, first cousin to His Majesty George
the Third, K. of Little Britain. He has better
talents, more knowledge, and less pretensions than
most people — in short, he is a most excellent com-
panion and all the appearance of a most affectionate
friend. Your poor dear Mother is as much pleased
with him as I am, and as he is perfectly polite and
constantly cheerful, he is an equally good companion
for both.
Would you believe que deja nous avons ete a
Stutgard, seen its mad Sovereign,1 and been accueilli
by him in the civilest manner? He was in the
country when we reached his capital. It was
necessary to ask his leave in order to see an
Academy of his institution, which bears an un-
common character in the rest of Europe. An old
Rum professor, to whom I was recommended by
a little Rum physician, dispatched an express to
solicit his Princely permission, aussi sur qu'il s'appelle
Charles. He brought it himself, and sent word that
1 mad Sovereign — Charles Eugene, an extravagant ruler, but a patron of educa-
tion. The state at this time ranked only as a duchy, but was raised to a kingdom
in 1806.
FROM THE BISHOP OF DERRY AND MRS. HERVEY. 23
he would have the pleasure of showing it. We met
him there with his Comtesse under his arm, and
after saluting us with all proper dignity he began
exhibiting his lions. A more elegant and orderly-
Raree-show I never saw. Imagine, my dear, 300
lads from seven years old up to seven-and-twenty,
all ranged in different classes, but in the same
uniform, same manner of dressing the hair, same
hats, stockings, buckles, &c. &c, marching with as
regular a step as a regiment of guards, and present-
ing themselves each before his respective plate,
standing stock still till the signal is given for grace,
and then each joining most reverentially in the
benediction. When that is finished they remain as
motionless till the word is given for sitting down,
which alone is done with some eagerness. They
then eat as methodically as they march, and during
the meal the Prince and we marched from class to
class, and he distinguished, as his caprice, his in-
terest, or perhaps their merits led him, the different
lads of talents. Their dread of him was shocking,
though he seemed to do everything to familiarize
them with him. After dinner they returned in the
same distribution with which they came, and the
Prince explained to us the nature of the Society.
Lads of every nation, every religion, every age, and
even every rank, are here admitted — from the sons
of common soldiers up to Barons and Counts. Each
follows his genius. We saw rooms for painting,
sculpture, drawing, music, Latin, Greek, Hebrew,
&c. &c. This is the true secret of education, and
it succeeds accordingly. Different geniuses have
24 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
ripened at different ages, and some premature ones
have been blighted when least expected. Those
who, after every trial, have shown no talent at all
become good dunces; this event never fails. The
Prince feeds, clothes, and lodges every one. None
is allowed to receive money even from his parents,
nor on any pretence to transgress the bounds of
the College without an Inspector. Each lies in a
separate bed, and fifty of them sleep so cleanlily in
one room that the air is as pure within as without.
I did not think so perfect a system of education
existed anywhere.
To-morrow we go to Munich, then to Inspruck,
then to Verona. Your Mother bears all beyond
expectation, and Lou1 in the highest spirits. I have
my own horses, so need not say how well I am.
Adieu. My love and blessing to your excellent
husband; may he always love you as well as he
does now, that is, as well as you deserve. I leave
the rest of the paper for your mother; but send us
all the Irish news you can, and believe me most
affectionately.
Added by the Bishop's Wife.
I will not let this paper be folded without adding
a few lines to my dearest Bess, to confirm your
Father's good account of me, and to say that I bear
the fatigue of travelling very well, now the heat is
over; and though my fat is in great measure melted
away, I manage to carry my skeleton through with
those who are in better case. Your Father's new
1Lou— His daughter Louisa, as previously explained.
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 25
friend is indeed a valuable acquisition, infinitely so
to him and very agreeable to me. We shall now, I
hope, be at Verona in a few days, and, I hope, find
there good account of my dear children. I am
persuaded that you are at this moment in Dublin,
and may all possible happiness attend you there.
Darling Lou is well, and sends her best love to you.
Pray assure little f.1 of mine; and great F.2 of my
perfect esteem and good wishes. I flatter myself
that your present to him next month will make him
very happy. Mention f.'s head, and be assured
that I am interested for you both in every article to
ye greatest degree, being ever
Your most affectionate Mother.
The Hon. Mrs. Hervey
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
Valdagno, September 28, 1777
I think of you so much, my dear Bess, that I
must absolutely write pour me decharger le cceur,
especially as I have not had a line from you since
you left Bury, which I reckon was on the 2nd, and
of course 26 days ago. It is a proof, at least I hope,
that you did not return to London, and that you are
growing every day nearer to your own home though
farther from me. That is now my first wish, yet
the fear of any accident which may have befallen
you on the road in so long a journey is very dis-
quieting; but you have passed all the dangerous
' little /—J. Th. Foster. 2 great F— Thomas Foster, D.D.
26 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
epochas for premature births; you have good roads,
a good season, a kind, indulgent husband, and, I
hope, an attentive servant, all strong guarantees for
your good behaviour. I will therefore positively
suppose you in Dawson Street,1 and this is, I think,
the fourth letter which I send to you there, and
happy shall I be if my dear child receives it with
her usual spirits, and with as much health as her
situation will allow of. The accounts of you from
Bury were very flattering, and Je tache de m'en bien
farcir la tete en attendant your own which I am sure
you will not neglect to send me. You cannot be at
a loss for a direction, as Danoot remains receiver-
general, so that any letters directed to Verona
would be sent after us.
I suppose you had des vives entretiens with Mr.
Foster upon the beauties of Yorkshire comparatively
with those of Brabant, but I flatter myself that he
received a total defeat and gave hostages for his
good behaviour: in short, I think you went trium-
phantly through all that riding; when you came to
Westmoreland and Cumberland he took a little sly,
malicious revenge, and if my poor dear love was not
very sick in the passage she repaid him with interest
on the other side of the water. I imagine you slept
one night at least at Dunleer,2 where I hope you
have many comforts in store, and that you got coolly
and quickly to town afterwards. But why do I talk
of coolly ? Perhaps you poor creatures are already
in rain and storm while we are basking in sunshine.
1 Dawson Street — In Dublin.
2 Dunleer — A village in Co. Louth, where, as already mentioned, Dr. Foster, her
father-in-law, was rector.
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 27
It is a week to-day since we came hither, and
we have had the finest weather imaginable, with
only some rainy nights that have made the air
still more agreeable. Your father continues to
ride every morning to the spring, which is four
miles from this village, and s'en trouve bien. For
my part I readily adopt the Italian manner, and take
the waters in bed. I begin about seven, remain
in quiet and darkness till near half an hour after
nine, and then open my window (behind the
curtain), take my chocolate and lie till eleven, and
sometimes twelve. This has rested and restored
me extremely, and the waters agree perfectly with
my constitution in every respect. I cannot posi-
tively recollect whether I wrote to you since I left
Verona and told you the horrors of our bare walls,
black meat, hard bread, &c, but we are all so much
in humour with the waters that we scorn to be out
of humour with anything else. We have dressed
up the ugliness of the house as well as we could,
a good appetite makes our peace with the bad food,
and health, even in perspective, makes amends for
many defects. There are two gentlemen and their
wives here, but one family is too good, being al-
ways at church, and the other rather too bad: how-
ever, we have some communication with this last,
though without any hopes of conversion. The lady
is handsome, the gentleman very dull indeed, but we
let him alone, and she is really agreeable, and having
no object of love makes a very good, cheerful com-
panion, with a proper retenue, at least when I am
present.
28 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Bittio1 arrived two days ago, noir comme un
maure, and grinning in a most ghastly manner, both
at the fright he had been in about some robbers,
and the joy to find himself so near home. He has
brought a great many fine drawings, and made good
remarks on them. We hope to see Mr. and Mrs.
Strange here, and think of going back with them
to Venice in about a fortnight. We are not quite
resolved whether to remain the winter at Padua or
to go to Pisa, but Rome and Naples are exploded,
and this keeping nearer to you, my love, almost
makes me feel as if I should see you sooner.
Louisa sends her love to you ; she is going on very
well now her hours are regulated in the old way.
She reads French and gets by heart with the gover-
ness, then writes and reads English with me. She
has now begged to resume her drawing with Bittio,
and she walks every day after dinner attended by
a little dog I have given her, which makes her
delight. She is perfectly well, and keeps her plump-
ness still. I have a bed, even here, in my room for
her, and Mademoiselle in the next, so that I am
a spy upon them, and she no fatigue to me, but
much pleasure, and her mind opens daily. Adieu,
dear Bess. My love to f. Your father's blessing
on you and him, and our compliments to the
Doctor. La Belle is almost suffocated for want of
somebody to scold, but behaves well, and so do I.
Remember me most kindly to Mr. Rich and Miss
Bellew. . . .
1 Bittio — A teacher of drawing.
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 29
The Hon. Mrs. Hervey
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
Valdagno, October 5, 1777.
S'occuper c'est savoir jouir,
L'oisivete" pese et tourmente;
L'ame est un feu qu'il faut nourrir
Et qui s'eteint s'il ne s'augmente.
You will wonder, my dear, to see my letter begun
with poetry, but these four lines of Voltaire were
just now repeated to me. I do not recollect to have
ever seen them, and if they are as new to you, I
think you will not receive less pleasure from them
than I have done.
The 6th. — I had got thus far in an idle kind of
scribble when I was blessed with my dear child's
letter from Dunleer. The winds favoured me ex-
tremely and brought me the news of your safe
arrival in 24 days. I need not, I cannot, say how
delighted I am with it, nor how thankful I am for
your preservation from all the accidents which
threatened you. You was a good dear thing for
giving me this satisfaction so immediately and by
your own hand, as no other could have conveyed
the same degree of content to me. You seem to
have performed the journey in a very short time,
but I flatter myself that you wrote truly safe and
well, and that you have not suffered from it. The
scheme of ending your journal at home was an
excellent one, but as I received your letter with too
great eagerness to see the postmark on the direction,
I was much disappointed on finding the date from
30 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Bury, and the happiness at the end was such a sur-
prise to me that I was in transports at it. Don't
make any apologies to me for the length of your
letters, but be assured they are by so much the
more welcome, and that there is no circumstance
belonging to you so trivial as not to interest me.
Though I have mentioned L. B.'s conduct towards
Mr. F. and you in former letters, yet I must repeat
my satisfaction as well as surprise at it. I think the
;£ioo was well allotted, but would it not buy 3,
instead of 2, pins. I have a notion 30 guineas for
each would do very well, and that would be some-
thing more, and the number better suited to your
use for them. I am glad Slimness is a favourite
and should wish to hear his remarks and opinion,
but not by letter.
My dear Bess, you outdo my best hopes in
matronly care. Comment une petite provision;
'twas an excellent wench, and when I love her
not chaos is come again. It had often occurred
to me to recommend it (so truly have you guessed
my thoughts), but the fear of alarming you with-
held me, and I believe I never even hinted it.
I thank God that this provision was useless, but I
figure to myself that my dear child may be at the
time she receives this safely and comfortably in her
own bed, with the little — removed to other quarters,
and in high content, the Doctor in possession of a
little grandson, nurse W. in high fun, little Byrne
in a notable fidget, and dear Mrs. R., or my friend
Miss B., in social chat in the great chair by you.
If all this has not already taken place, I flatter
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 31
myself it is a comfort in store for you. I expect
from my dutiful son great discretion, and that he
talks no more to you than the women allow of (who
are here, for once, the best judges), besides which, I
must add that if Poup6e is dismissed one moment
before her time my heavy hatred shall fall on him ;
it is a thing of the utmost importance or I would not
name it, but who else can do it? You have only to
keep my letter en cas de besoin, and I have too
good an opinion of the youth to doubt his compliance
after such a warning.
We have compleated a fortnight here with satis-
faction, that is, with success; the waters continue
their good effect, the weather has favoured us,
and one week more, before the rains set in, is
all we ask. We are then to go to Venice for a
short time, and I believe afterwards to Pisa (in
Tuscany), but direct always to Danoot for fear of
a change of plan.
I have wrote to beg Mrs. Preston's protection
for you in Dublin, which I think will please her
and make her partial to you, and that you will like
her and she you notwithstanding the disparity of
age. The poor La. M'D. have played a desperate
game. Be sure to let me know your acquaintance
and connections; take care of cold on your recovery;
cover your petto; wear a chdle all winter, and let
me find you blooming next summer. Adieu. My
love to f. Your father and Lou's to both; compli-
ments to Dr. F., M. Rich, M. B. Parnello, et tutti
quanti, and my blessing on my children and grand-
children. Louisa says she is monstrously happy
32 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
at your safe arrival, and longs to be an aunt. She
sends her love to Nurse. I hope she is stout and
well, and little Byrne also.
The Bishop of Derry
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
ROME, January 28, 1778.
I have been writing till my head is almost giddy,
and yet I cannot let the post go out without saying
one word to my dear Elizabeth. Your mother and
Lou are at the opera, from which I exclude myself
per decorum. I have the more leisure for other
amusements, among the foremost of which, my dear
child, is conversing with you. I must, however,
begin with commissions. I have bespoke a full-
length statue of my late brother,1 which I mean to
have executed by the print we have of him, and beg
that you and your husband would visit the work as
often as you can. Vanoost, if he is able, is to
execute it. The next, my dear, is rather more
difficult. I wish you to buy me the handsomest
poplin you can find, and of the richest colour, as
much as will make the most fashionable gown.
This I would have sent to your sister at Paris,
which Lady Buckingham can easily contrive for you
by one of the many messengers that go to London,
or even by the common post to the Secretary of
State's office, from whence it can with equal ease be
Lmy late brother— -Probably George William, second Earl of Bristol, d. 1775.
FROM THE BISHOP OF DERRY. 33
directed to your sister at Lady Stormont's,1 and your
sister will have directions from me to forward it to
me at the Cardinal de Bernis' at Rome, where I am
on such a footing that he has done this more than
once for me.
'Tis incredible how pleasantly I pass my time
here, both within the town and without, and
how agreeably the first nobility receive strangers.
Your mother begins now to mix a little more, and
I hope will gain both health and spirits by it, but
she dares not attack palaces or antiquities, both on
account of the fatigue and the damp. I am im-
penetrable to both, and have, besides, painters
working in my room all the day. 'Tis really a life
of Paradise. The sett of English, too, are pleasant
enough, and have their balls, their assemblies, and
their conversationes, and instead of riots, gallantries,
and drunkenness, are wrapt up in antiquities, busts,
and pictures. One day or other, perhaps, we may
visit it together, but as yet I think the hazard in
every respect too great.
" For youth to itself rebels tho' none else near."
I am impatient to hear that something is to be
done for the R. Catholics. Pray inform yourself
well about it, and then me. The young senator's2
opinion would weigh much with many people, and
he could easily discover their bent; there seems to
be no possibility of escaping a French war. They
are working with all their might at Toulon, and
1 Lady Stormont — Wife of the British Ambassador at Paris.
2 The young senator — John Thomas Foster, M. P. , d. 1796.
C
34 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
only getting ready to attack us the better. My
intelligence is pretty good, and they are so confident
of success they can scarcely veil their faces enough
to conceal it. In this case you would see us sooner
than we promised, and the Cardinal de Bernis must
give us his last favor, a passport. Some of the
French are already hurrying home, and a lady of
the very first distinction took leave of me to-day,
hoping there would be no war, but expecting there
would. She is sister of the French ambassador at
London. Ireland in this case is undoubtedly their
first object, and what a desperate condition is ours
if the R. Catholics are not first won over. I tremble
to think of it. Why don't you write to us more
constantly, and be sure that every trifle that belongs
to you or your husband interests us. Adieu. It is
an hour later than I thought, but a short letter is
better than none, and so I send you this.
The Hon. Mrs. Hervey and the Bishop of Derry
To Mrs, J. Th. Foster.
Rome, March 3, 1778.
I waited for the end of the Carnival, dear Bess,
in hopes of having something to tell you which was
extraordinary and amusing that might dissipate your
natural gravity for a moment, and lighten the effect
of Irish fogs; but, alas, my dullness and indolence,
and the most perverse and persevering wet weather
imaginable has in great measure disappointed my
project. The Saturnalia is almost over, and nothing
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 31,
memorable has happened that I know of. The
public entertainments have been bad operas, masked
balls at the theatre at so low a price that you might
be in company with your cook, or even your foot-
man, and for the last eight days a horse race in the
principal street, which was likewise crowded with
coaches and masks. The Roman people are re-
markable for an immoderate love of pleasure, yet,
though this amusement was limited to a few hours
only each day, the part they took in it was so
moderate that it seemed to consist only in gazing
at each other, and throwing sugar plumbs. This
retenue, however, is, I believe, the effect of guards,
constables, and spies, and la Corda1 (which you may
remember described by Bittio) set up in the midst
ready to punish any offender sur le champ. The
race itself is indeed as little worth seeing, as can be
imagined, and as little seen. For imagine to your-
self five or six horses let loose to run down a street
quite full of people, without riders, and without a
place set off for them. The people, who are divided
among many objects, make no place for them till
the moment they come up, and then, falling back
just enough for them to pass, close again the
moment after; so that as there is only one heat, it
is really only a momentary amusement. What is a
greater is the variety of figures that are piled up on
each side. The windows and balconies tapissis, and
full of people. Some fine carriages, and a few open
ones; but I have seen nothing so pretty as the
procession at Brussels, and there is very little.
1 la Corda— Probably for the punishment known as the strappado.
36 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
humour amongst this great variety of people. The
most entertaining of them was one who, in the
character of a petit maitre abbi, went about bowing
to all the ladies, and looking at them with his
lorgnette. One of our horses happened to fall, and
this pretendu abbe ran, amongst others, to our assis-
tance, and after he was got up, he very pompously
gave him his benediction to prevent future accidents
(knowing, as was supposed, your father for a bishop),
on which there was general acclamation.
Colonel Dillon (brother to the one who married
Miss Phipps) is just come here, and has given us
the satisfaction of seeing somebody who has seen
your dear sister, which is always more satisfactory
even than a letter. I had one at the same time,
and she seems going on very pleasantly.
Voltaire1 is really at Paris, as the newspapers
mentioned, but which I could not believe. He
lodges upon some quay or open part of the town
where there is a crowd every day to stare at him;
but what is more satisfactory, he has had a deputa-
tion from the Academie des Belles Lettres with some
of the first people at their head. The first geniuses
in the suite, and above forty in number to compli-
ment him on his arrival and acknowledge those
talents by which he has done so much mischief.
Imagine his excess of happiness! This man, who
has certainly more vanity than almost any other
person, has been also proportionably more flattered.
His sun sets bright indeed, yet I think that in the
midst of his glory his heart smites him. He is
1 Voltaire — Francois Marie Arouet de Voltaire (1694-1778).
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 37
going to bring a play upon the stage even now, but
I have not heard whether it is likely to be a proof
of his strength or of his weakness. I cannot help
feeling something on this occasion for poor Rousseau,1
who, I think, will be ready to dye with envy. He is
certainly a more amiable man, and I believe more
mad than wicked. In proof of this I must tell you
that he has lately made his address to God Almighty,
which is not to be published till after his death.
He tried several times to deposit it under a particular
altar in a church at Paris, but was defeated, and at
last determined to find out a faithful, generous,
pitying Englishman, with whom he might entrust
it with this injunction. He has done so. I saw
the particular friend of the person to whom it is
confided, who told me that R. had read it to his
friend with the tears pouring down his cheeks,
and that it is a recital of all his hardships and
misfortunes, and a most sublime and affecting
composition.
God bless you, my child; perhaps we may meet
sooner than was intended, for we are in daily ex-
pectation of a declaration of war, which must drive
us home. My love to f., and a kiss to dear Fred
the third. Your father and Lou join in all kind
thoughts towards you. Compliments to Doctor F.
No account yet of Mrs. Oliver. I write to you
almost every week. I hope you receive my letters.
I am, dear Bess, your most affectionate mother.
E. Hervey.
1 Rousseau— Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778).
38 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Louisa sends her love to Nurse, to which I add
my blessing.
The following supplement is added by the Bishop.
Your mother has left me just room enough to
give you a commission, dear Bess. Ships are con-
tinually going from Dublin to Leghorn. Send me
by the first as much poplin as will make two suits of
clothes, one of a grey, and the other of a puce colour.
Direct them " a monseigneur le Cardinal de Bernis
a Rome ". Put them into oilskin, and inclose them
"au Consul Francois a Livourne". I wish I knew
what would best please you and your husband from
hence. Tell me frankly, but after the second week
in April direct to us at Paris at Sir John Lambert's.
If you like to go and stay at Derry this summer, the
house and garden there belong to you and yours.
The Hon. Mrs. Hervey
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
Rome, March 15, 1778.
From the time of your receiving this letter,
dearest Bess, your direction must no longer be to
Rome but to Paris, Sir John Lambert. Our route
is not absolutely fixed, but the troubles naissant
in Germany will prevent our returning the way we
came, and I hope we may go the other in time to
see your sister before she leaves it. They seem
quite uncertain about their summer party, indeed
we must all be so whilst war hangs over our heads.
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 39
I have just now your letter ended on the third of last
month, and am sorry to find that you have had any
apprehensions about me, but I cannot account for an
interval of six weeks, as I think I have seldom been
so long as a fortnight without writing to you. I
have had no confinement all the winter, and though
it has rained almost as constantly as in Ireland, there
is generally some part of every day not only practi-
cable but pleasant, and with a mild, soft air and sun
unknown to us poor islanders in our own country.
The spring is now remarkably forward, and the
scene brightens every day. I hope to see some
of the environs, and in the meantime our Lent
promises to be more cheerful than the Carnival,
from the great number of strangers which are now
every day returning from Naples. Vesuvius has
been so quiet that your father has not been tempted
to go there. I hope it will not take a tantaruni at
the time we should go northwards for fear we should
make a short turn towards it.
Mr. Dillon, brother to our nephew and colonel of
a regiment in the service of France, is here with
some other officers who had all received orders for
their immediate departure to join their corps, but it
is relaxed a little yet, so that they seem in expecta-
tion every post of fresh orders. Many jokes pass
between him and your father about the invasion
of Ireland. The Colonel promises to be careful
of the Palace, your father to be indulgent to the
prisoners.
What you tell me of f. and yourself opens a pros-
pect to me much more delightful than the fairest in
40 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Italy. I see very plainly that his conduct towards
you has been affectionate and confidential. I know
how well you deserve it, and I long to embrace
you both ; the rose-lipped cherubim, too, whom I am
prepared to see with an eclat of beauty and its first
lovely little endeavours to walk. I regret only that
it will be old enough to fly from me, but I trust
I shall soon win him over. I hope you will all
come to us as soon as we get home and that may
perhaps be by the middle of summer, but certainly
cannot be later than the end of it. Remember me
affectionately to Mrs. Richardson. I am very glad
she is in town. I have not heard from her, but
notwithstanding your caution, if she tells me you
are thin I shall be alarmed. I hope you will take
the medicine I have recommended to you pour me
soulager. I am sorry for your disappointment in
Miss M., but dear Lady Ross makes amends, and
I had rather your intimacy were with those older
than yourself. La. B.'s civility to you n'est pas peu
de chose, for I hear she is haughty. You don't
mention the Fitz, so I conclude they don't go on to
their credit, but I wonder you say nothing of the
youngest brother, married to Miss Butler, Dean
Bayley's granddaughter. I hope you have visited
her. Your good nature to poor Miss Blackall pleases
me, and I believe she is sincerely attached to you
and to me, besides that she is unhappy, which is
always a claim on a generous gentle mind, and
therefore operates, I am sure, upon yours. Your
e"clat on the birthday, and the popular acclamation
was charming. I flatter myself that little f. quietly
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 41
enjoyed both. Adieu, my love. My hours are
now much crowded, and I have not leisure for lono-
letters. Your father and Louisa send their love to
you both. You know how much you possess the
heart of your affectionate mother.
Louisa's love and my blessings to Nurse.
The Hon. Mrs. Hervey
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
Rome, March 25, 1778.
I return you my most affectionate thanks, dear
Bess, for all the kind things which you say to me on
my birthday. The gift of life to one who feels its
true value and tries to attain its end is inestimable,
whatever may be the rubs which, in the course of
it, are allotted to us. But good children are its
choicest blessings, and Providence has been bounti-
ful to me in this article, not only giving to me the
present enjoyment of them, but the most reasonable
hope of their being treasures to society, and fur-
nished with all that can procure their own most ever-
lasting happiness. I can hardly say how much I
felt for you on the alarm which your dear little boy
gave you. They are a tax (amongst some others)
which nature has laid upon us poor mothers, but
then the tenderness of our attachment makes us
great amends, from the first innocent smiles of our
infants down to their grateful and well-directed
affections. I hope these pangs, however, have not
42 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
been repeated. It is sometimes only the first that
are so violent, and as he begins early to cut his
teeth I flatter myself they will come the easier.
He is, I conclude, before this decorated with a coral.
The nurse knows that I conformed to this usage,
which I think both ornamental and diverting. I
have more reliance on a crust of bread for efficacy.
I figure to myself poor f. in a deplorable state,
betwixt his anxiety on your account and the dawn-
ing of his fatherly tenderness, and am sure it cost
him many a sigh and stride about the house.
Sir Robert Smyth (the Welshman) is here and
his wife, who is a pretty sensible young woman. I
talked a good deal to him about f., whom he spoke
of with kindness. He said he was sure he would
make a good husband, and I don't remember that
we could find any fault except a little too much
reserve and gravity for a young man, but he swore
to me that he had seen him at times lively, even to
mixing humour very agreeably with his conversation.
So have at him, dear Bess, and make him laugh
without mercy in spite of Lord Chesterfield.1 I am
very glad to hear so good an account of his health,
and that he is in better hands than his own.
I hope you do not forget that I consulted Dr.
Smyth for you in that only illness you ever had,
and which overturned your constitution and was the
foundation of all that is amiss about you to this day.
I mention this because it will make him a better
judge than anyone else, having the experience added
to family attachment, and perhaps you will take his
1 Lord Chesterfield— Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield (1694-1773).
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 43
opinion about the medicine I sent you, for if I find
you thin and coughing I shall chide you as usual or
perhaps more — especially as I find you take fright
and don't dance. Your letter is a very pleasant
account of yourself, my dear, and I follow you
about to all your parties. . . . Had I the face of
Mrs. Ferguson at full grin I would sit for my picture,
to indulge your affectionate desire of it. The fact is
that my face, such as it is, has been very bad, and
the medicine of no effect. I had intended it for my
brother, and the first sitting is over, but it promises
so ill that I believe it will be only fit for my partial
children, who seem to wish to preserve even the
idea of what I am. I hope yours will be well done.
Your father's is admirable, and Louisa's, though
unfinished, may, I think, be relied on for a pretty
picture and strong likeness.
Your sister1 has fallen not only into the first set of
company, but has made some of the best acquaint-
ance, and the most creditable imaginable. She is
bien repandue dans le monde et parfaitement bien
recue, yet I don't think her at all happy, and I fear,
though she does not say it, that Lord Erne keeps
his usual restlessness and discontent, and though he
requires society more than anybody, is constantly
running away from it, and yet is without a fund in
himself to supply its place.
We have now determined on making Paris our
way home, but whether we shall be in time to catch
them there the war will determine. If it breaks out
now we must hurry home and go there en droiture,
1 Your sister — Lady Erne.
44 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
but if not we go to Venice. I write to Mrs. Strange
by this post to say that we intend being there by
the 1 8th of May. The 27th April is our day fixed
for leaving Rome, and we shall make short stops
on our way. I hope you will have calculated for a
full month's journey for your letter, and not have
directed it here too late. At all events when this
reaches you let it warn you to direct only to Paris,
Sir John Lambert's. All the rest is too uncertain.
God bless you, my dear child. I must say a word
or two to Slimness} Louisa sends you her unfaded
love, her constant kind wishes to her nurse, and a
kiss to her nephew.
I thank you sincerely, my dear Sir, for your
satisfactory account of my daughter, and am not a
little pleased that you begin already to huff your
son. I flatter myself that I shall examine the truth
of these articles before it is very long. We are soon
to leave the treasures of Rome for the treasures of
Ireland, which are now far greater to me. I con-
fess, however, that this is a charming residence, but
as to weather, the winter has been much more rainy
than that we passed at Brussels. I thank you for
your Politicks, though the most interesting of them
is the completion of the circular road, of which I
hope you and Bess profit, and perhaps the dad.2 As
to f.'s silence in Parliament, it is prudent to begin
with it: il se recule pour mieux sauter. Voltaire
has been dying at Paris, and has confessed and asked
pardon of God and the Church. He is now recover-
1 Slimness — J. Th. Foster, as already explained.
2 the dad— The child Fred. Th. Foster.
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 45
ing, and I should think would be puzzled to know
whether to act Saint or Devil.
The Hon. Mrs. Hervey
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
Rome, April 6, 1778.
My dear child, your father went out yesterday on
a little tour, the first that he has made (in the four
months which we have been here), and has left
me your letter to answer, that is, acknowledge,
lest an unusual silence should alarm you. But
acceptable as the commission is to me, I fear I must
needs be brief, for our departure draws very near,
and I have left a mass of things to do in his absence,
which I thought would have happened sooner, and
which you know is the time I allot for all the fiddle
faddle of preparation so inexplicable to our sovereigns.
I have besides to pay my respects to some of the
principal rarities here, for I have been obliged to
decline the detail of them. I shall only eat what
I can digest and I hope be the better for, but the
weather has become quite hot, and though I have
now the absolute command of my time, it harasses
me a little, but I shall make everything bend to it
and accept of no engagements: all daylight may be
put to profit, and in the evenings our friend the
Prince of G.1 and the Russian general came and sat
with me till eleven, which is my hour of repose.
I have been more vexed than you can imagine at
1 Prince of G. — Prince of Saxe-Gotha.
46 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
losing the advantage I had promised myself of the
excellent music-master I mentioned to you: great
defects and great perfections are almost always con-
trasted in the same person; he is quite a character,
but it is not Bittids. In short, an enthusiasm about
a treatise he is writing on music, an attachment to
his country, and a philosophic contempt of riches
robs us of this treasure and perhaps a little love, qui
s'en mele.
I have this moment a letter from your sister, who
gives me the triste nouvelle of Lord Stormont's1
departure from Paris, Monsr. de Noailles'2 arrival
there from England, &c, &c, in short, everything but
a formal declaration of war, but as that must now
follow, I think we have nothing further to do or to
hope for, and I imagine your father, who has had
this account, will return in a few days, and that we
shall soon after take the shortest route to our
unhappy country.
Adieu! Venice, but would I were already at Paris
to counsel poor dear Mary. One good, at least
I trust, is to be drawn from this great evil ; I mean
our being all once more together. The English
post is come in, but there is no confirmation of the
above news, though I know it to be true. I suppose
it was a day or two before the event. Adieu,
dearest child: be in no pain for us. There is no
doubt of a passport and a safe conveyance home,
and the season is now fit for travelling. I look
upon America as lost for ever, but I flatter myself
1 Lord Stormont— British Ambassador at Paris.
2 Monsr. di Noailles— French Ambassador at London.
FROM THE BISHOP OF DERRV. 47
that Lord Chatham1 will be our minister, and that
we shall punish the treachery of France effectually.
Ireland is to be invaded, it is said, but I hope we
shall give them other employment. The French
officers are all gone off this morning. I embrace
the father, mother, and son with true affection.
Louisa sends her love to all, and to her nurse par
dessus. She is well and happy. I told you before
to direct to Paris only — Chevalier Lambert.
The Bishop of Deny
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
Rome, May 29, 1778.
My dear child, in the uncertainty whether this
will find you in Ireland or not, I shall not write as
copiously as I would have done last week had I had
leisure. When your mother wrote to you, my dear,
the fate of war appeared to be fixed, and in that
case we were equally fixed to remain at Rome; but
since all the appearances now incline for peace, our
project changes with that of higher powers, and if
the political weather continues fair we shall leave
this delicious abode at latest in the autumn. Your
mother has imagined that the waters would be
almost necessary to you, and if you suspect it, my
1Lord Chatham — William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, prime minister from 1757 to
1761, and from 1766 to 1768. Lord Chatham had been against harsh measures
towards the American colonies, but he was strongly opposed to the Rockingham
party, then in power, and the peace proposed by them as betraying an unworthy fear
of France. His last appearance in the House of Lords was on the 7th April— the
day after this letter was written — when he protested against the acknowledgment
of American independence. He died on May nth (1708-1778).
48 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
dear girl, don't delay so pleasant a remedy for a
single week, but take up fifty pounds from my
banker, Mr. Gleadow, who upon seeing these few
lines will be contented with your receipt, and it will
at least pay your postage through England.
I must confess to you that if a war should take
place between France and us, I am in no little pain
about Ireland, as I know to a certainty their great
stroke will be at us, as the weakest, the most divided,
and the least defended. The Irish regiments in
their service are already quartered on the coast and
ready to be embarked, and the officers belonging to
those regiments who had made an excursion to
Rome of a few weeks were returned, recalled in a
hurry, and had joined their corps. From these I
collected enough, not only to assure myself of their
destination, but even of more particulars than they
would have chosen before dinner to communicate.
Their object at Rome at this time was easily guessed.
Considering what a number of Irish friars of every
denomination abounds here, and how attached our
cruel and political laws render them to the Stuart
family, nothing could exceed the attention shown
by the French Ministers here to these gentlemen.
They were lodged in one of their houses, and
received daily at their tables, and distinguished con-
stantly from all other strangers, and their elation at
the thought of a war was beyond all description.
At the close of their visit they scarce made any
secret of their destination, and would frequently
rally me on my purchases of statues and busts, which
they said must one day belong to them. If so
FROM THE BISHOP OF DERRY. 49
perilous a state does not waken our Government to
mitigate the penal laws against the Papists, and to
win by gentleness whom they cannot subdue by
severity, if the most uniform acquiescence under the
most impolitic and undeserved oppression that ever
disgraced any legislature does not soften our, as yet,
inflexible Government, I must confess I shall suspect
some treachery, and that there is a latent scheme for
driving them out of the island.
You write to us very irregularly, my dear child;
I hope your health is not the cause of it. Yet at
this distance the omission of a post is of some con-
sequence, and forms a disappointment not easily
repaired. Have you received your little mare?
Does she suit you, or are you become too timid?
Did you ever receive my letter in which I offered
you my house either at Derry or the Down Hill,1 if
you wish to change the air? It long preceded our
thoughts of staying here, and it is now an age since
we have heard. Think that it requires almost two
months to return an answer and you will not be so
dilatory in sending one. I long to know where you
pass your summer, in case you remain in Ireland,
what your occupations and what your intentions are.
We are fixed in a delightful habitation twelve
miles from Rome which we see every day, but have
not yet visited since we left it. The environs of this
part are the most delightful that can be imagined.
Wood, water, hills, plains, rivers, and the sea, while
beautiful buildings decorate all the villages, which
are chiefly on eminences, and from our house to
1 the Down Hill — The Bishop's country seat in Co. Derry.
50 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Albano the road leads through a bird-cage walk of
about a mile, shaded by the largest, the oldest, and
the most venerable oaks, as well as chestnuts, that
I ever saw. Under the branches of these patrician
trees one frequently discovers the principal buildings
of Rome, and especially the numerous ruins of
ancient ones that fill the immense plain between this
hill and the city. In short, a more romantic spot
cannot be seen. But I am tired of writing my tenth
letter and must break off, not without assuring your
husband of my sincerest affection, or without renew-
ing every protestation of the truest love to you and
yours. Your mother and Lou are both well, and
both at supper in the next room.
The Hon. Mrs. Hervey
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
Castel Gandolfo,1 June 28, 1778.
As I had nattered myself, dear Bess, so it has
turned out, and the last courier from Paris brought
me two of your letters, for which I thank you, my
love, and for all your punctuality and affection. You
say your health is better. Mrs. Richardson writes
me word that you seem well, but that your looks
are not in favor of that opinion. I hope, however,
that the fatigue of the winter and amusements may
be the chief cause of the alteration; and I think I
may rely on you and Mr. Foster for not retarding
any measure that may be thought necessary to
1 Castel Gandolfo — A village near Rome.
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 51
restore you. Don't you deceive him in your com-
plaints, dearest child, and I think he will not deceive
me in his attention to them.
Great events have happened here since the date
of your letters: Lord Chatham's loss in the political
world, Voltaire's in the literary, and the great long-
wished-for toleration passed so nobly in England
and so well begun in Ireland; you may imagine
how much your father's mind is occupied with such
articles. He was very much affected by the death
of our great minister and deliverer ; but, luckily, the
warm part he had taken in bringing about this bill,
and the unexpected and rapid success of it, has
turned his thoughts into a new channel, and restored
his spirits: he now talks of nothing but Ireland, and
I only pray God that we may wait till the heats are
fairly over before we undertake our journey. The
Roman Catholics here and everywhere are in high
spirits, and we have already some instances of the
good Wish, preparing to spend their fortune and their
lives in their own country, so that I do not doubt but
there will be a very great revolution in favor of it
almost immediately.
I conclude that your sister will have told you how
infamously Voltaire closed a life which has been a
perpetual scandal to mankind; he certainly had very
great and agreeable talents, but a corrupt mind, and
a mean, unfeeling heart. F.'s transport of rage
against him was a feast to me, and conveyed such
agreeable ideas of his sentiments as I trust he will
verify in all his words and deeds. Your account of
your matron manners does not alarm me, for I lost
52 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
my wild, youthful spirits as soon as you did ; and I
know that you may have more satisfaction, and less
danger from a more even and quiet temperature,
which I hope, however, will not degenerate into
grave, which does not belong to you. Mrs. Berkeley
writes me word that Ranizzini1 goes over to Dublin,
on which I congratulate you, as also on all the
pleasant parties which I flatter myself you have had
out of town. I can easily conceive you to be a
favourite with dear La. Arabella and all who think
well ; and, what is more, I am convinced that you
will always be such, for your character has taken its
plie and Dieu soit loue for its being a right one. I
beg you will reconcile your mind to my passing the
summer here, where the air agrees uncommonly well
with me, instead of going to Val Dagno, which, being
a small town in a small valley, would have suffocated
me. I am thinner than ever, and wizened like a
winter apple, but I thank God my health is pretty
good, my spirits even, and my face better ; and if
the frequent variation in the father's feelings and
schemes did not affect my nerves, I believe I should
even grow fat — he begins now to find this air too
gross for him, and is going to make a little tour,
which at this season in this country is difficult, but
he cannot do without it. Louisa is very well, very
amiable, very docile, but without application to any-
thing. She sends her sincere love to you; to f,
the darling nephew, and his nurse. Adieu! I em-
brace you both, my dear children, and am youi
affectionate mother.
1 Ranizzini — Cardinal Ranizzini.
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 53
F.'s scrap at the end of your letter was cheering,
and I thank him for it. Compliments to the Doctor.
The Hon. Mrs. Hervey
To Mrs. J. T. Foster.
Rome., July 15, 1778.
Though I think I wrote to you last Wednesday,
dearest Bess, yet, as I find myself at my usual em-
ployment here, I must try to snatch half an hour to
thank you for a long letter of the 14th of May, which
I think came after mine was set out. The time will
soon come when I shall begin to talk of the arrange-
ment of our journey, and the time fixed for it: in
succession our adventures on the road, and finally, I
hope, a rendezvous given in St. Patrick's blessed
island.
The heat is increased since I wrote, but is still
bearable, and much depends on temperance, patience,
and good management. The most disagreeable
circumstance is the disappointment. We have the
finest sky and sun imaginable, which we dare not
enjoy; fruits which are delicious and pernicious; and
refreshing evenings which prudence forbids to taste
of: my weak frame will not allow me to get up at
4 o'clock in the morning, which is the time of enjoy-
ment, and your father's regularity and strictness with
regard to good hours at night takes off the amuse-
ment which the freshness of the evening invites to
after supper (I mean in the house). This leaves a
short space in each afternoon only for going out, &c,
54 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
but the drives are lovely and invaluable even thus.
I have dined at a neighbouring villa; but though it
is delightful when once there, it is difficult to get to
it without suffering. Thus you see new illusions
start up in every path of life ; virtue is the only good,
and a good conscience the only real, invariable, per-
manent satisfaction and enjoyment.
Your lamentation and panegyrickon Lord Chatham
are very just, dear Bess, yet I confess that, strongly
as I feel the publick loss, I think the ruin of his family
by a shameful profusion or inattention bears hard on
his private virtues as a man.1 To make a perfect
character they must go together, and where they do
not, I cannot but suspect brilliant qualities to be with-
out a solid foundation. A man who loves his country
preferably to his children appears to me a monster;
but I speak more as a woman than as a patriot, not-
withstanding I can conceive the virtue of a Brutus
(hard as it was) ; but there must be delinquency and
the austere justice of a magistrate ; but why a retired
statesman should forget he is a father je l'ignore.
Rest, however, be to his soul, for it was a great one,
and the greatest have perhaps the most striking
defects.
I admire your Irish patriotism very much, and
hope trade is in a way to have every reasonable
advantage, but that sudden qualm has checked the
ardor for the Papists, and in the midst of the indul-
gence to their interests, has made Mr. Gardiner
forget their religion. How much more noble is the
1 Lord Chatham — The House of Commons voted ^"20,000 to pay Chatham's
debts, and an annuity of ^4000 was settled on his successors.
FROM THE BISHOP OF DERRY. 55
unlimited toleration of them in England! What says
hum-hum (Mr. Fortescue)? I know f. is for him,
de cceur et d'ame. Pray assure him of my best love
and thanks for his readiness to take you to England,
which I flatter myself is not so necessary as I had
imagined. You have an excellent place for the goats
when near you, if that should be proper, as it once
agreed with you, and are in time for the second
season ; but I hope your house, and the country air
may suffice. Pray when you write to Mrs. Richard-
son assure her of my affectionate friendship and
gratitude for her kind letter, which I entreat her to
forgive my not answering. The heat takes away all
strength, and I hope by the end of October to thank
her in person. A kiss to your boy, my blessing to
his nurse, compliments to Doctor Foster. Finale-
ment je vous serre ma tres chere fille sur mon cceur.
Your father came home yesterday well. Louisa is
perfectly so.
The Bishop of Derry
To Mrs. J. Tli. Foster.
Rome, August 5, 1778.
Though I was rejoiced to see your handwriting,
my dearest Bess, yet when I found the contents of
your letter I was sorry you had employed it so long
after any degree of fever: so long an abode in Dublin
and at such a time of the year could scarcely produce
anything less. This country, too, has had its fevers,
56 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
and we have all suffered more or less : mine, as usual,
lasted two days — one good struggle and my consti-
tution, like a giant, subdued its adversary. Your
mother's, according to her system, lasted longer, but
I thank God and her physician (this is more modest
than Cardinal Wolsey,1 who always wrote "I and my
king") she is better recovered than ever I saw her,
and contemplates her journey and her return to you
with great satisfaction. Louisa is still very weak,
though in good spirits; she and her mother write
billets doux to each other every hour, and I believe
this intercourse does them more service than febri-
fuge drafts or decoction of bark.
At the end of our Campaign, or when the hottest
of our Fire was over, Mr. O'Reilly, a gentleman who
has passed the summer in the same house, entered
upon action with a most violent fever, and began to
batter his enemy in the system of the Episcopal
Vauban, but, like the Frenchman who attempted to
cut his throat and stopped in the middle of the
operation, so poor O'Reilly, who is as fat as Dr.
Palliser, twice as young, and with a truly Hibernian
constitution, when he found himself deluging in sweat
and floating in his own grease, whether he regretted
losing so much O'Reilly matter, or whether his heart
failed him, he changed his system abruptly, called in
another engineer, who began immediately to batter
in breech, and expended by this means so much of
the patient's ammunition that he was near falling a
victim to his own imprudence and the ignorance of
his engineer; another has since been called in, who
1 Cardinal Wolsey — Ego et Rex meus is sufficiently well known (1471-1540).
FROM THE BISHOP OF DERRY. 57
has wisely turned the siege into a blockade and means
to starve the enemy into surrender.
But, to return to business, you will have learned
before this both from your sister and from me that
we all hope to winter in Ireland, and, if Shanahan
will allow us, at the Downhill, but the poverty of the
country is so extreme, rents have so entirely failed
that the poor tenants are not able to pay even with
daily labor, the bankers in Dublin are failing by
dozens, famine stares the country in the face, provi-
dence itself seems to fight against us, and the crops
threaten to be worse than ever. The pitiful con-
cessions made to us by England will not compensate
for an hundredth part of the losses which their multi-
plied blunders have brought upon us. In the mean-
time I advise your husband to live very frugally,
since if the American war continues, it is almost im-
possible that Irish tenants in the north should pay
above two-thirds of their rent. As to the invasion
of Ireland, if no relief had been given to the R.
Catholics, I believe I know much more of the feasi-
bility of that scheme than either the Viceroy or his
Secretary, the place where it was to be executed, the
people with whom it was concerted, others, again, the
least suspected, by whom it would have been abetted,
and the arrangement intended to take place in case
of success. If the Government are blockheads enough
to imagine that the raw, undisciplined troops trans-
mitted to them from Great Britain, stationed in a
part of the country where the French never meant
to approach and surrounded by internal ennemies,
would have been able to secure you from a descent
58 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
in the most remote parts among crowds of friends
who daily expect them and look up to them as de-
liverers from the most cruel and unjust bondage that
ever oppressed human creatures, it would only con-
vince me there was as much treachery as folly in
their counsel. But the countenance of the French
ministers in this place upon the first intelligence of
the R. Catholic bill was the clearest proof how salu-
tary that measure was, and that the medicine would
go, if the faint-hearted physician permitted it, to the
root of the evil — but remember, dear child,
" Truths would you teach and save a sinking land,
All fear, none aid you, and few understand ".
The prejudices of some, the interests of others, the
fears of still more, and the indolence, indifference,
and supineness of all are barriers which even Lord
Chatham found insurmountable. What think you of
a button-making king that in the midst of a general
conflagration drives about the country drinking tea
and coffee with Lords and Ladies at their villas and
country houses ? Does he imagine the K. of Prussia
resists the H[ouse] of Austria by such amusements, or
that William Pitt supported his G. father against the
whole force of Bourbon1 by tripping about in such
revels? — fie upon't! Whip me such Roitelets2 into
good behaviour, and send 'em to school to learn their
lesson. Adieu. My love to your husband, who will
say amen to this Imprecation.
1 Bourbon— The French Royal Family. 2 Roitelets— Petty kings, kinglets.
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 59
The Hon. Mrs. Hervey
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
Castel Gandolfo, August 15, 1778.
I find two of your letters in my writing-table, dear
Bess. I do not exactly know how long they have
been in my possession, but they would not have been
totally unanswered if I had not known that your
father had wrote to you, and that I was engaged in a
little experiment upon fevers in this hot climate and
season. In short, I have paid my usual tax, and
experienced the usual goodness of providence in my
recovery, which is going on very well after a very
short confinement. The circumstances which at-
tended this event made it a little distressful at the
time. Your father had one of his short fevers during
the worst part of mine, and Louisa was confined to
her bed likewise with an intermitting fever, which
is in a very fair way of being subdued; her looks
improve every day, the fever is quite gone, and she
gains appetite and strength as I could wish. There
is only a gallery between my room and hers, and our
doors were open night and day, which makes me
able to attend in some degree to her ; and in some of
my good intervals I wrote her joking billets, which
kept up her spirits, which the absence of father and
mother had rendered very necessary. We had a
physician in the house, who attended us very care-
fully; but I had no confidence in him, though he
was from Ireland s own self. At the same time a
healthy young man in the apartment over ours took
60 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
a violent fever and died in a week: it has proved
since that it was the only circumstance which could
have saved his wife from ruin, as he was spending
all he had. So after comforting her for a week she
has left us, and all melancholy incidents are giving
way to the pleasure of returning health, and the
satisfactory preparation for our return home, which
we mean to do as soon as the heat will let us.
Your father has taken a little alarm about my ex-
posing myself to the blasts of the North of Ireland
after being in a state of perspiration for so many
months, and has proposed to leave us in England
for the worst of the winter months, which I believe
may be necessary. I shall quit him with reluctance,
and regret much to delay our meeting, dear Bess;
but I hope you, Mr. Foster, and the little boy,
perhaps also the Doctor, will go to him, and make
up for my absence, which I shall make as short as
I can. I fancy he will be at Deny first, to creep
into the Downhill as he can, and I hope that may be
an amusement to you. Mrs. Richardson, too, will be
in the country, and I trust often with you. I wish
Lady Moira would trust you with one of the Lady
Rawdons.
I hope our affairs are in a much better position
than when you wrote last. I flatter myself that
peace is at this moment made with America, and by
the French fleet going back into port it is plain the
war is not desired with England; and I hope that if
Spain can adjust the difference betwixt us that we
shall not be so absurd as to run into it, but that we
shall have the pleasure to find general peace at our
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 6 1
return, and poor Ireland emerging from its diffi-
culties.
God bless you, my sweet child. My tender affec-
tion is with you and yours. I imagine your father
will be at home the end of October. Lady Bristol,1
who still calls herself D. of K., is just come to Rome,
and they say is busy packing up all her effects.
The Hon. Mrs. Hervey
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
CASTEL GANDOLFO, September 14, 1778.
My dearest Bess, I natter myself that you will
have imputed my long silence to the accidents at-
tending our removal from hence, and our journey
towards home, and by this means may have avoided
any particular anxiety for us; but here we are still,
my love, and just emerging from a scene not a little
perplexing; in short, there has been an influenza in
the air of this country from the heats of the last two
months from which scarce any one could secure them-
selves. Your father and I, Louisa, Finney, Barwick,
the Bn.'s valet de chambre, the child's governess, all
have paid the tax; it has been a fever more or less
to all ; but no one has been so gently treated by it as
myself, so that I became the nurse and apothecary
to all. I thank God my labors and prayers have
been blest with success; all are returning towards
1 Lady Bristol— -Elizabeth, daughter of Colonel Thomas Chudleigh, and wife
(married privately) of Augustus John Hervey, Earl of Bristol and brother of the
Bishop of Deny. She married, secondly, E. Pierrepoint, Duke of Kingston, for
which offence she was impeached before the House of Lords, and the marriage
was declared illegal (1740-1788).
62 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
health, and for my own part, I am both ready and
willing to set out towards you, but I much fear that
your father will be inclined to pass the winter in a
milder climate than that of Derry, on account of his
dreaded gout, for indeed he is much reduced, and it
would take him at a disadvantage; but I do not re-
linquish the hopes of his getting strong enough to
wish himself to set out, and to have courage to do
it. Poor honest Samuel has escaped this scourge,
and some of our Italian servants, but most of them
have suffered, and even the assistants to the sick
have themselves fallen ill of the disorder; it has not
been mortal in this part of the country, yet pretty
severe : for the particulars of our woful state I reserve
them for our meeting, that I may make you cry and
laugh at pleasure, for which I pledge myself.
I long to hear something of your state and situa-
tion, and how little f. settles to a family life in the
country. I am glad he is so well entertained in town.
I conceive him to be interested in Parliamentary
debates, and I was pleased to find him in the chair.
The notable provision for the country, my dear child,
delights me; and I think I see you in the midst of
family occupations, with the little fairy tripping after
you and bleating (as ye all used to do) that dear word
Mama. I have as yet no account of Lord Erne and
your sister having left Paris. I am much distressed
at her state of health and at his irresolute conduct
about Spa; but most of all at the apprehension of
being defeated in my scheme of taking her with me
to Bath, where I hoped to have recovered her, but
man proposes and God disposes. I dread her going
FROM THE BISHOP OF DERRY. 63
to Ireland with her present complaints; the pleasure
of seeing you will be a counter-poison, but I am afraid
it will be the only one.
We have now very pleasant weather, and, notwith-
standing my own illness, and that I have suffered on
account of other people's, this place certainly has
agreed with me, and, some circumstances changed,
I should have been very happy in it. It is impossible
to say even now whether we shall have war or peace.
Poor Keppel1 has been severely treated for not doing
impossibilities. I am furious when I hear a brave
man condemned hastily for want of success, or an
honest man for want of good fortune. I think a
character once established should be proof against
everything but matters of fact.
Adieu, dearest child. Why are we to be hundreds
of miles asunder? My best affection is with you
and yours. Dutchess of Kingston still at Rome.
The Bishop of Deny
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
Rome, September 19, 1778.
My dear child, — I have but a moment to tell you
that we are all making great strides towards health,
and that at this instant the critical rains are falling,
which usually purge this atmosphere of all its
impurity; but, alas! a journey to England is im-
1 Keppel— Admiral Lord Keppel (1725-1786}. He had been in command of an
ill-equipped fleet of twenty ships while the French Brest fleet, with which he was
supposed to be able to cope, consisted of thirty-two ships of the line. He accord-
ingly fell back to Spithead to wait for reinforcements.
64 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
possible till next April. In the meantime, comfort
your poor sister1 all you can, who is exhausted, worn
out, and can no more. He tires her to atoms by
his silly difficulties, and his endless irresolution.
Great God, how ill she is matched! Tell your hus-
band, the antipode of t'other, that I should be
much obliged to him for a list of the speakers in our
house on the Popish bill, and the sum of the argu-
ments against us; -that I wish also to know if the
bill to tolerate their religion is to take place, without
which I do not know how the multitude are benefited;
that I beg him to ply his cousin2 close on this subject.
He is a man of very superior talents, of great
weight. I f such a bill should pass, I pledge myself to
bring sixty thousand pounds sterling within eighteen
months into the kingdom for the purpose of building
cathedrals, churches, and chapels. The Pope will
give us five thousand, and one single convent in
Bohemia, of Irish friars, subscribes one thousand
pounds, the seminaries of Valladolid and Salamanca
as much. There is a Governor MacEgan, is just
returned from his government in Peru, an old
bachelor with ,£70,000, who will give us £5000.
The Empress of Germany, if this war does not con-
tinue, has promised her confessor, Father Kelly, an
Irish Recolet, a considerable sum for the benefit of
her soul in Purgatory — other lesser subscriptions are
numberless, but such a sum would be deeply felt in
our exhausted country. Adieu! my dear. You see
how much I have this matter at heart. Your hus-
1 your poor sister — Lady Erne.
* his cousin — John Foster, last Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, created
In 1821 Lord Oriel (1740-1828).
66 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
What this will produce at the end of the winter, God
alone knows; but I fear they will be ill prepared to
undertake an early journey, which was my purpose.
In the meantime they are better lodged than they
were, in a higher atmosphere, in separate rooms, and
with the convenience of a third that commands the
finest prospect in all Rome. To facilitate their
airings, and to make them really such, I have bought
four horses for them, which carries them into the
country and out of the suburbs, their former patrolle.
At dinner we have usually two or three friends, and
in the evenings, if Louisa keeps well, we shall have
small concerts. With these ingredients, I think it
no difficulty to make a good dish of happiness,
"animus si nos non deficit aequus": your husband
will English this Latin for you, but for fear he should
not, it runs thus, "if your appetite be as good as
your meat" — for if it be not, 'tis in vain to abuse the
cook, and would be more to the purpose to call in
the physician, who, if he knows his trade, will brace
the body in order to pacify the mind. Fortunately,
the physicians in this country are entirely for this
system infinitely more honest than ours, for they
make no scruple to confess that great towns are the
churchyards of the human species.
I must confess myself a little uneasy at your scheme
of lying in at Dublin, and would much rather be at
the expense of your coadjutor than have you risk
yourself in so prejudicial an atmosphere, both to the
child and its mother. Air, my dear Elizabeth, is
nothing more than a fluid whose purity and impurity
depend almost entirely upon the greater or less
FROM THE BISHOP OF DERRY. 67
degree of its elasticity: in great cities and marshes
there can be little elastick air, for reasons too obvious
to mention to you. Dublin is both a great city and
a great marsh; judge, therefore, what a stagnant air
it must always contain. Fear it, my dear Ophelia;
fear it. A propos to Dublin, send me word what
were the colors of the two poplins you forwarded
for Paris, but which never reached it. The lady to
whom they were destined doubts our taste a little,
but has given strong proofs of her own in two most
beautiful gowns she was so good as to procure at
Paris for your mother, who now deems herself too
old to wear them ; and if Louisa continues as she
has begun, your mother, too, will grow younger and
fitter for her gowns.
The air grows delightfully mild, but so changeable
that we have daily three seasons within twenty-four
hours; and though I am what is called recovered, I
dare not stay abroad in the evening. Lord and Lady
Lucan, with a most delightful family, are here, and
enjoy Rome as much as we enjoy them. To-morrow
they dine with us though there are six in family, but
'twill be a family dinner, and probably a cheerful
one. The other English here are not worth naming
to you, but Lady Berkeley is expected, and we shall
have a scene of it. What if the Dutchess Countess1
should return? How impatient will you be for our
letter, and what copious materials we should possess;
but fate has no such happiness in store.
Have you seen Lord Erne? Is he on tip-toes?
Isn't Mary a sweet creature to be at last multiplying
1 Duchess Countess— 'The so-called Duchess of Kingston.
68 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
herself, and providing comforts for her old age and
mine? I am in raptures with the thought of seeing
you all at the Downhill, and have some thoughts
of building barracks for children. Go on, my dear
Eliza, and never fear hurting your constitution by
honest child-bearing, since for one mother that grows
thin with this work, there are five hundred old maids
that grow more thin for want of it. My love to
your husband, and a thousand thanks to him for the
warm part he took in favour of R. Catholicks. Your
mother and sister are both asleep, and probably
dreaming of you. Send me word frankly what the
Primate says of Downhill.
The Bishop of Derry
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
Rome, December 8, 1778.
Though I wrote to you so lately, my dear Eliza,
yet, as we are making a jaunt to Naples, I just
apprize you of our motions. Your mother would
have wrote, but having just finished a letter to Lady
Erne she is not in a disposition to scribble, and I am
grown such a secretary that letters are my pastime.
Our weather is growing delicious; our company of
English multiplies very much, and some pleasant
people among them, especially Mr. Thomas Pitt,
nephew to my hero : he resembles him so much both
in person and understanding he is quite a treat to
me, and having been intimate with him in his last
years, becomes twentyfold more interesting. I am
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 69
purchasing treasures for the Down Hill, which I
flatter myself will be a Tusculanum, especially that
my dear Tullia will render its desert Eden. Bid
your husband write me constant billets of you whilst
you lie in, and be sure you grow a prudent, sober
matron, and play no gambols. Adieu, this is a short
letter to travel so far, but it is better than none.
Louisa and your mother are at the table, and send
their love to you and f. You cannot doubt mine.
The Hon. Mrs. Hervey
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
Rome, December 12, 1778.
My dear Elizabeth, — The last post brought me
two letters from you. I had already destined you
one by the courier to-night, but imagine, if I could
want anything to stimulate me, how much my dear
child's affectionate anxiety for me must have con-
firmed my intention, and quickened the pleasure
arising from this happy invention of communicating
one's thoughts and affections. I received your
letters, my love, at the harpsichord, in spite of which
I read them till the tears poured down my cheeks,
and I was forced to cry out, "Oh! love, how pain-
ful thou art!" But I hope the pains you have felt
from it on our account have been gradually softened
down by our repeated good news of the sick, until
your mind is settled into a thankful calm for our
deliverance. It is true we all suffered much, and
myself in the extreme, but God's providence was so
■JO THE TWO DUCHESSES.
manifested in my favor, that in the midst of my
calamity I found comfort.
Since we came here this dear child has had two or
three very slight relapses, which have determined us
to go to Naples for a month for change of air, lest she
should otherwise be subject to them all the winter
(direct, however, always to Rome). Do not imagine,
dear Bess, that she has any consumptive complaints
from this, or, indeed, any that I conceal from you. I
give you my honor that she has none but this disposi-
tion to a return of fever, but she is grown strong, has
got flesh to cover her bones, and eats and sleeps well,
rides on horseback, walks a little, is in good spirits,
dies to see you, and desires a thousand loves which
she had intended to assure you of with her own hand.
Her little horse and little dog are her delights, and
she is very happy at the thoughts of going to
Naples.
As to myself, I continue very well; my red face,
indeed, is returned, which I had exchanged for a
better hue at Castello, but my health is good. The
account of yours, my love, would distress me ex-
tremely did I not impute your complaint to your
situation, and hope they would go off of course.
Your sister has taught me that comfortable lesson,
for after thinking her in a very bad state I hear she
is growing quite well, and likely to produce a fine
child, which I hope you may do too. You both, I
find, have an inclination to nurse, but she has taken
advice and is confirmed in it. You are uncertain.
The principle in you both gives me the truest pleas-
ure, but you must follow her steps, and not do it
FROM THE HON. MRS. HERVEY. 71
without proper authority on your own account; it
sometimes weakens and sometimes strengthens the
constitution. I cannot judge at this distance which
is likely, but beg you will be cautious; do the best
for your child, and leave the rest to Providence.
Perhaps nurse would stay and superintend Henri-
etta, though she might not be equal to the laborious
fart, as we shall not be at home till the summer: in
short, this will depend upon herself, because, though
she remains in our pay we make no claim upon her;
should be glad she could be of any service to you,
and would have her equally depend on us for her
home. As to reward, my dear, it would be difficult
for me to name it. Some present, I should think
right and best, in money; but you are to consider
yourself as Mr. Foster's wife, and not as my daughter.
I have set down your commissions in a memorandum
sheet for Paris — here there is nothing. I will add
some silk stockings to them, though they are so hard
to get over that I believe I must put them on. This
will get to you, I suppose, about the time of your
confinement, in which I hope you will be very pru-
dejit. I am heartily glad that you are to be in
Dominick Street, which I look upon as in good air;
but if you should not recover well, I hope you will
meet us next spring in England: your sister stays
for us there, and I think it very possible that Jack1
may be returned home by that time. He writes in
great spirits, was on a cruise, and delighted with
his station, and determined that Captain Hervey of
1 jac]t Captain Hervey, the writer's son, Augustus John, who had entered the
navy.
72 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
the present time should not be contented with less
fame than his uncle1 had had before him.
Adieu, dear Bess, I have neither time nor place
for anything but family matters. Your father wrote
to you last post, but as perhaps he might not men-
tion his health, I must tell you that he is well, and
everlastingly employed in buying ornaments for the
Down Hill, though we both think the greatest there
will be our children — God send us to them. My
love to f. I hope he is very good to the poor dear
little orphan? and will be able to give her in good
health to the arms of her affectionate mother.
The Bishop of Derry
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
November 6, 1779.
Here we are, my dear Eliza, within a few miles of
Preston, in Lancashire, and at every stage more im-
patient to see you and your husband. Perhaps you
will be able to meet us at Belfast and settle our
winter's campaign, that we may not pass more time
asunder than is necessary. I have wrote to your
sister for the same purpose, and hope you will be
able to settle something. In the meantime I dread
some violent convulsion in this country. Very
credible reports are circulated that Jamaica is taken.
The manufactures of Lancashire and Westmoreland
1his uncle — John Augustus Hervey, brother of the Bishop of Derry, who had
greatly distinguished himself in the naval service of Britain.
"ipoor dear little orphan— A playful designation of her daughter, Mrs. J. Th.
Foster.
FROM THE BISHOP OF DERRY. 73
depend chiefly on the cotton which that island pro-
duces, and the price of it is already raised 25 per
cent: judge how the manufacturers are alarmed.
Sugar, tea, and coffee have risen in proportion, and
the alarm is universal. I must own that I expect
little less than a general insurrection, for there seems
to be a determined resolution in some branches of
the ministry to reduce us to some fatal extremities,
with what view I can better tell than write. No one
in London doubts of an union, nor do I believe there
will be much difficulty about the terms. The peerage
to be incorporated into the British house is to be
hereditary, and the remaining Irish peers are to be
admissible, as at present, into the lower house. The
proportion of each will be a little more difficult to
ascertain, but all agree that we Bishops shall remain
in our diocese. God grant this may be true. An-
other scheme has been proposed of leaving the Par-
liament in Ireland for the internal administration of
the kingdom, and assessing it once for all in propor-
tion with England, but I cannot imagine the Irish
will endure this: it would reduce them to the insig-
nificance of a mere corporation of aldermen and
common council, and would multiply the number of
non-residents beyond endurance, for who would con-
descend to become a member of such a legislature.
Write to me, my dear, at Portpatrick, and let me
know at large how matters go on. Send me no
foreign politicks, for on your side the water you know
none. Lord Mountstuart is gone to negotiate a peace
with France. Think what a system to close igno-
miniously a popular war at the expense of maintaining
74 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
the most unpopular and most unnatural one possible,
and what terms can be expected from the insolence
of France, and what will they dare to offer to poor
America. Cunning, which they call policy, guides
all their steps, yet some there are among them of
true parts and real probity, but, alass! how few.
What is your husband doing? I never hear from
either of you, yet I wrote on my landing at Dover,
and once again from London.
[The rest of this letter is torn off. — V. F.]
The Bishop of Deny
To Mrs. J. Th. Foster.
BELFAST, November 29, 1779.
I am just arrived here, my dear Elizabeth, and
was fully determined to set out to-morrow to meet
you and your dear sister either at Dundalk or Bar-
meath, but the extreme badness of the weather,
joined to some alarming symptoms of the gout, which
you know operate strongly on me, have determined
our immediate course to Derry. It is a little hard
to be so near you and not to have the least chance
of seeing you, but I shall trust to the chapitre des
accidents and endeavour to make it out in some
manner. I send you a parcel by a carrier which
contains two pair of bracelets, one for your sister
and the other for you. I would not let them be
sett, that you may do that in Dublin according to
your own taste, and when you have done so, without
FROM THE BISHOP OF DERRY. 75
sparing my purse, if you will let me know the amount
I will discharge my debt and complete my present.
There are also two rings: the Apollo I desire dear
Mary will offer in my name to Lord Erne. The
Plato I hope our philosopheryc/bz Thomas will accept,
and I must rely on your interest for making it accept-
able. All your encomiums on Dublin will hardly
prevail on me to go there, but I don't know what
effort I may make for the sake of passing a week or
ten days with Mary in the S.W. room which she has
so comfortably offered me, and which is worth a
whole apartment in a palace from the cordiality of
the offer. I hear from good authority that Bucking-
ham leaves you, and that Lord Hillsborough1 is bold
enough to visit us. This prognosticates real free
trade, for it is the object of his ambition.
You press me strongly, my dear child, to return
to Dublin, and not deny any longer my assistance to
this sinking country. I have given pretty strong
proof to the ministry in England and to many of the
leading people here that I have been invariably pur-
suing its interests and investigating the causes of its
decline for these last three years. Can any country
flourish where two-thirds of its inhabitants are still
crouching under the lash of the most severe illiberal
penalties that one set of citizens ever laid upon the
other? All the errors in our Popish laws have pro-
ceeded from one fatal and, as yet, insurmountable
piece of ignorance. The Protestants here have uni-
versally concluded that every R. Catholic is a Papist,
1 Lord Hillsborough— Lord Hillsborough, afterwards Marquis of Downshire, was
a supporter of Lord North, and held more than one office under him.
?6 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
that is, that every man who was fool enough to be-
lieve in transubstantiation was wicked enough to hold
no faith with heretics and to deny allegiance to his
Sovereign the moment that Sovereign was excom-
municated by the Pope. In order to discriminate
one of these Catholics from the other, I got an Act
of Parliament passed in 1774 by which every Catholic
that had been educated in the French and Flemish
seminaries (where the dangerous doctrines of Popery
are exploded) had an opportunity of abjuring them
and exculpating himself. Immediately about one-
fourth of the R. clergy availed themselves of the
occasion, and took the oath which purged them from
this imputation, but a very great number from whom
I expected the same conduct, because I knew they
had received the same education, declined it : nor did
I guess the cause till we were at Brussels. There I
learned that the hopes of preferment in their miser-
able hierarchy deterred them from abjuring the pre-
rogatives of their sovereign master the Pope. On
this I resolved to visit the fountain head of such a
defection and to trace it to its source. I did it so
effectually, bribed so many clerks and under-clerks
in the different offices that I obtained the whole
course of correspondence between Rome and her
clergy in Ireland on this topick. I did more. I de-
tected the whole plan of invasion for last year, which
could not have been attempted without the assistance
of Irish friars conversant in the English, Irish, and
French languages, and I have good reason to believe
that the whole proceedings in England in favor of
the Catholics were grounded on the information I
FROM THE BISHOP OF DERRY. yy
transmitted to Lord North1 and Lord Hillsborough.
Had the French ministry imagined that the Irish
Parliament would have done things by halves and
omitted the religious indulgence to the people whilst
it granted the pecuniary one to the gentry, the inva-
sion would still have taken place last year in Ireland,
after Mr. Keppel had so scandalously left the French
masters of the ocean. Don't imagine, therefore, my
dear girl, that I have been inattentive to the welfare
of this kingdom. Your mother can tell you how
many wearisome days and studious evenings it has
cost me whilst the ignorant and unobserving thought
me busied in virtu and occupied by the elegant arts.
The committee at Rome which governs the religious
affairs of Ireland is composed of seven cardinals, who
are governed in their consultations as the Commis-
sioners of the Customs are in Dublin, by a secretary.
They, too, have their Sackville Hamilton. Every
member of this committee is as venal as a Board of
Aldermen, but in order to bribe them you must buy
a picture of one, give a poplin to the niece or the
mistress of another, a suit of clothes to the secretary
of a third, and so on ; so that with a good purse and
a liberal hand one may know every tittle of what
these Christian Pharisees have sworn not to reveal.
It was by means such as these that I discovered the
sentiments, the views, the interests and connexion of
almost every Popish bishop in Ireland, and that at
this instant I know why some have taken the oath
of allegiance and why others have declined it. By
Lord North— Frederick North, Lord North, prime minister from 1770 to 1782
(1732-1792).
78 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
these means I discovered that the King of France,1
through his ambassador, the Cardinal de Bernis, got
the nomination of three Irish bishops in the course
of one year, as the most effectual means of securing
the assistance of the Popish clergy and the Popish
populace in case of an invasion; and of all this I
transmitted immediate information to such as could
best avail themselves of it. Whenever that great
topick comes to be discussed, I will endeavour to give
such council as I am able, but, alass! mankind are
little guided by reason, and unless interest or danger
excite their attention they are generally deaf. Adieu,
my dear girl. I must say a word to your sister, and
as I conclude she may still be at Dunleer I shall
direct it there.
The Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry,
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Downhill, near Coleraine, April 21, 1780.
By some untoward accident, my dear Eliza, your
letter of the 14th did not reach me till last night, by
which means I was deprived of my option of at-
tending the dissenters' bill; but, indeed, my spirits
are so depressed by the loss of dearest Lady Mul-
grave2 that I am totally unfit for anything but the
heartless solitude in which " I live and move and
have my being". Your mother is every day more
urgent with me to go over in order to join with Jack
1 Louis XVI. (1754-1793).
2 Lady Mulgrave — The Bishop's sister, who died in March of this year.
FROM THE EARL OF BRISTOL, BISHOP OF DERRY. 79
in liberating the estate1 from the shackles in which it
is held, but matters in this country are not sufficiently
decided to allow me to quit it. The fever is now
coming to a crisis, and whether it will end in a
delirium or in the health of the patient and restora-
tion of his constitution, neither you nor I are prophets
enough to foretell ; but this I can venture to say, that
to all appearance the struggle will be great.
Is it possible that the Ch. Governor2 or any of his
friends can think me capable of distressing an admin-
istration both in England and Ireland to which I
wish so well, and for the sake of which I have sepa-
rated from some of the oldest and most intimate
connexions I have in the world? Believe me, I think
their cause too good either to desert it or embarrass
them. When I judged them to be better informed
than myself, as in all foreign politicks I should with-
out either scruple or reserve deliver my political
conscience into their hands; but with regard to their
interests in Ireland, and the intrinsick unalienable
rights of Ireland itself (which are the rights of man-
kind), in which I deem myself much better informed
than them, having not only taken more pains on the
subject, but being likewise an ocular observer on the
spot, if either through inattention or presumption
they will not take the advice I have given them but
persist in the same infatuated system of despotism
towards Ireland which has almost lost America —
what is then the part of an honest man or a true
friend? What would a faithful physician do upon a
1 the estate— The estate of Ickworth Park, near Bury St. Edmunds. The bishop
had succeeded to the title of Earl of Bristol and to the family estate in December,
I77o. 2 Ch. Governor— This appears to mean the Lord-Lieutenant.
80 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
similar occasion with a struggling patient? Would
he, in compliance with the prejudices of the family,
concur in administering a medicine which he knows
to be improper and suspects to be fatal, and which,
if it did not destroy the patient, would at least throw
him into strong convulsions, or would he honestly
resist the dictates of that family, prohibit the medicine,
and encourage the patient to decline it? Would
your friends have me act the part in the North which
the poor Duke of Leinster1 has been persuaded to
take in the South? The Duke of Leinster may
perhaps be sincere in his professions of the depen-
dency of Ireland, but I, who do not deem that depen-
dency legal, nor even that it is either politick in
England to assert or useful to exert it, could not
either as an honest man or as a real friend to ad-
ministration, remain silent in such a conflict, much
less espouse the opinion I from my head and heart
condemn. But suppose for a moment I should — what
would be the unavoidable consequence? I should
first find myself bereaved of any little influence I
have acquired in this part of the country by professing
my real sentiments, and afterwards, when the flame
breaks forth — as break forth it will, unless some gold
dust shall smother it — what would administration
naturally say to me? Why remain in the North to
give no information of the storm brewing? or why
coincide with sentiments which you knew to be pre-
judicial? Why not at least preserve your own influ-
ence in the country to prevent violence and guard
1 Duke of Leinster — William Robert Fitzgerald, second duke of Leinster (1749-
1804).
FROM THE COUNTESS OF BRISTOL. 8 1
against extremities ? I think we are at the eve of a
civil war, which bids fair for being one of the most
sanguinary and most general that this country has
known. Parasites and sycophants may talk another
language at the Castle, for all governments love to
be soothed into an opinion of their safety, and for
real safety heedlessly mistake their own dangerous
security (but a real friend will apprize the minister
betimes of his danger, and a warm one will do it
in warm terms). Their danger at this moment does
not arise only from their offensive measures and from
the alarm given to the friends of the Irish Consti-
tution, but from a more latent and a more cancerous
evil, from an inherent dislike to the religious estab-
lishment from the scandalous —
[The rest of this letter is missing. — V. F.]
The Countess of Bristol
To the Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry.
August 13, 1780.
We drank your health yesterday, but I am much
concerned to find, upon pressing Elizabeth on that
subject, that it is not altogether so good as, in your
ardour for the mountains, you represent it to me;
and though Mary says that you have no other com-
plaint than a sore finger, yet she seems to think your
spirits low, and I much fear that you have taken too
much fatigue for your strength.
We are in hourly expectation of f., who has been
more absurd and inconsistent than it is possible to
82 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
express; and, after fearing to trust anything to writ-
ing, has wrote four or five letters by every post of
everything; in short, he is a ship totally without
ballast, blown about by every gust of passion, a very
tiring companion, and an insufficient and unsatis-
factory friend.
There has been some thought of dissolving the
Parliament, but I flatter myself that it is over for the
present. My brother1 was disappointed of his com-
panion into Devonshire, so turned about from Lewes
races, went back to London, from whence he writes
me word that he stays choked with dust, he does not
know why, but I suppose he will soon be down.
Colonel H. is on the road at last, and will perhaps
be here to-day or to-morrow, which I am glad of, for
I think f. a , and it may keep him in better
order. How could I be so mistaken in him? Yet
are not wiser people than myself mistaken every
day? Adieu. Lady Hervey still up. Poor Eliza-
beth better notwithstanding, and eats a little.
The Countess of Bristol
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Ickworth Park, May 17, 1781.
My dear child, — I was very sure that my brother
would not decline his friendly assistance in your
present distressful situation; and I am sorry to find
that any delay should have occurred in a thing so
necessary for your peace and my satisfaction. As
1 My brother — Sir Charles Davers, Bart.
FROM THE COUNTESS OF BRISTOL. 83
to the message which you have delivered to me
from Mr. Foster, I should be surprized at it from
anybody else; for he cannot but recollect that I have
mentioned the very sums for which he engaged to
me; and I am sure that when he is cool enough to
have his judgment operate, he cannot term a conduct
severe which is only the steady performance of a
very painful duty. He will recollect, perhaps, that I
once consented to your reconciliation, and tried by
uniting you under my own eyes to promote your
happiness: his return to me has been a conduct
which I confess was the last I should have expected
from him; but it has opened my eyes. . . . With
regard to the children, as they are boys, I advise you
to make no opposition to his desire of having them.
I hope poor little Frederick goes on well.
I am, my dear child, your most affectionate mother.
The Countess of Bristol
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
St. James' Square, June 1782.
Lady Mary1 is much better. I am just come from
her, and have had an opportunity of talking to her
about the scheme I mentioned to you last night, and
she, with her usual kindness and good humour, has
assured me of a welcome, if you can take up with
such a retirement; and that Mrs. Gordon makes no
objection, for they are to lodge and board together:
that is, to have no trouble, and each pay the cook
1 Lady Mary — Lady Erne.
84 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
14s. a week for themselves, and js. a week for ser-
vants; rooms as at Bath, each person to breakfast
alone, and at no time to be a clog on each other.
You will not, I am afraid, look favorably on such a
party, and I am aware that it will be a dull one, yet
your affection for Lady Mary, and the real use and
comfort you may be of to her, will, I know, brighten
the prospect to you. You would not disturb their
Methy proceedings, nor would they intrude them
upon you. Thus stands the compact, provided Mrs.
Gordon, who is the foundation of the party, is agree-
able. The advantages to you would be in a kind
relation, an appearance of protection, retirement, a
good air, and lovely scenery; and if you adopt my
scheme of Bath for next winter, you would save two
expensive journeys. I have this moment received
the letters you sent by the Duke of Devonshire,1
and have caught your father before he could get
quite into bed to hold a conversation upon them,
the result of which is that I expect you both to
leave Bath on Saturday, and to be here on Sunday
(as I suppose).
The Duchess of Devonshire's2 behaviour on this
occasion is heavenly, and your distress will have been,
I hope, at this very hour that I am writing, relieved
by your father's £ 100. I am so hurried and agitated
that I don't know what I say, but we look upon your
journey and your summer as most happily allotted.
1 the Duke of Devonshire — William Cavendish, fifth Duke of Devonshire, who
succeeded to the title in 1764 (1748-1811).
2 Duchess of Devonshire — Georgiana, daughter of John Earl Spencer. She was
married to the fifth Duke of Devonshire in 1774, and was one of the two duchesses
from whom this volume derives its title; d. 1806.
Trom. £i& '•.i/st/i'"/ vo ■ //"■"'<;.< . icunJ-oorotufA '77-'
FROM THE COUNTESS OF BRISTOL. 85
I shall certainly stay in town a little while to see
you, though part of the family are gone to Ickworth;
and I flatter myself that your sister will be better
here than alone: pray tell her this; I am not able to
write it. I send two letters which came to-day from
your brother. S. H. intended to have wrote to you
had she not seem them, and desires me to say so,
with her best love. Adieu! my dear children. Is it
possible that I am so near having you both with me
again, and may I look forward to a degree of com-
fort and happiness for you for this summer? My
blessing on this dear woman! I hope you will
recollect that you and your sister and lal lal will
be ill-lodged but affectionately welcomed.
The Countess of Bristol
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Ickworth Park, January 5, 1783.
My dearest Bess, — I would not write to you till I
got hither, as I had a mind to tell you something at
least with certainty, and that I thought my letter
would certainly travel faster than you. I received
your dear little note from Dover, but have not yet
the comfort of knowing you got safe to Calais, though
it is ten whole days since you left me; however, the
weather has been so good that though I am impatient
I am not uneasy. I saw your Duchess several times
before I left Town. She behaved like an angel in
everything, supported her loss with fortitude and felt
86 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
it with the utmost tenderness, was warm and inter-
ested about you to the smallest trifle, and infinitely-
kind to me on your account. I rely on her for the
first possible tidings of you, but I am quite vexed
that she should have found a way of writing to you
which I did not, and reproach myself for your being
solitarily at Dover with a comfort less than I could
have given you.
Whilst I was at Devonshire House one morning
there came a letter for you directed there. I saw it
was from Mr. F. and told her I would open it to
save the postage. I did so. There was a repetition
of the remittance sent, settlement, your receipt to be
given, &c, and at the end what I will now transcribe:
" I would ask you, if it should not appear to you as
a question of idle and impertinent curiosity, whether
since I saw you you have ever received any pecuniary
assistance from either of your parents : if it appears
to you in the light I have stated you have only to be
silent; if otherwise, you will give me an answer. —
J. T. F." This is so extraordinary that I should
advise you to answer him by asking leave to answer
his question, by a question, how he thought you had
been maintained for the eight months he had left
you without a shilling. I pity you for the meeting
at Dover, and long to know the result.
The ex is postponed, and will probably never
take place. There have been two notes to you from
Lord Shuldam, which, as they were about La. H.'s
business, I opened and gave to her, and wrote to
him that you was gone. I believe the parcel is safe,
only they did not know to whom it belonged. I
FROM THE COUNTESS OF BRISTOL. 8?
am rejoiced that Mr. Hunter answers so well. I
have wrote your father word how I had engaged for
him. I have no letter yet. Poor Mrs. Greene is
highly satisfied at having been of use to you and
with your letter. She has had a great escape. The
step of her carriage broke with her, and her leg is
slightly hurt and in a very good way, but if the
horses had stirred it was over with her. She bears
it vastly well, and is all kindness. My sister is very
well, sends her love to you, and says as a proof of
her forgiveness she has recommended you to the
good offices of a friend of hers at Nice, a Mr. Morice,
who was long her tenant, at last bought her house,
and has always behaved in a very gentlemanlike
manner. I expect Fred to-morrow, have asked the
poor Plumpa for a week. Augustus Phipps is now
playing at backgammon with Louisa, and desires his
love and good wishes to you. I shall have the
pleasure, I hope, of seeing all these young people
happy. You see I write very close to make as much
as I can of a letter. I saw Captain Finch just before
I left town, who had left your brother in good health
and spirits at Madeira. La. H. and your sister are
at Bath; saw the poor little Dillons in their way, and
were delighted with them. I shall be happy to hear
that Louchee improves upon you, for a disagreeable
object so repeatedly present is horrid, but I know
you will turn to the best side of her. Lady Emily
Ker is going to be married. Lady Ma, the Duchess
of Devonshire, and I are in agony of expectation
for a return of favor, but La. Ma, who knows her
best, says we must let it work alone. God bless you,
THE TWO DUCHESSES.
my dearest. Thank you for your promise. Louisa
asks for the foldings.
The Countess of Bristol
. To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Ickworth Park, Feb. 7, 1783.
I thank you, my dearest Elizabeth, for your two
letters from Lyons, for which I had been long im-
patient, as the winter was so far advanced. Your
stay there for some time seems absolutely necessary
after so much fatigue, at which I am the more dis-
appointed as I had flattered myself the roads were
good, and that, being totally your own mistress, to
stop when you would, that you would have escaped
it: however, bless Malle- Bertin's five wits who has
preserved you from cold a la Chinoise, and as to the
pole, springs, &c, though they are teasing accidents,
and, what is worse, expensive ones, I dare say you
bore them very coolly, but I confess that your ex-
pedition on the water alarms me, nor shall I be easy
till I hear of you on dry ground again.
I am sorry Mr. Hunter does not turn out the
economist I expected, and if he continues his princely
ideas, which are just opposite to what I expected
from him, it may become necessary for you to send
him back and to take a servant more suitable to your
situation; but I am still more vexed about Mrs. Ash-
burner, who, I see, can never be more than tolerated
by you, and yet I do think it necessary that you
should have a person of character and conduct about
FROM THE COUNTESS OF BRISTOL. 89
you, and not a pert, gallant, corrupt femme de chambre,
who may overturn your best plans of prudence.
I am sorry I did not write to Lyons, but you will
have found my letters, I hope, at Nice. I cannot
think of troubling the Duchess of Devonshire with
them except on any particular occasion, so direct
them en droiture. I am surprised at your recollection
of that town, though it is very striking. I trust that
you have found no difficulties on the road, and this
peace will now have put all sides in good humor. I
hope, too, that it will have relieved your mind of part
of its burthen.
I am sorry that my situation has sat so heavy on
it, for I can give you no comfort on that subject ex-
cept by assuring you that my mind is quite above
and out of the reach of the oppression I receive and
the insults which accompany it, and that I have pride
enough to bear being told that my advice is pre-
sumption, and that I am a being so made up of
vanity and ostentation as not to be capable of co-
operating in so laudable a plan without feeling the
least humbled by it; and even my resentment is
softened down into compassion for the frailties of
human nature, and for the wreck which warring
passions bring upon it: my own happiness has long
been an empty sound, and I now am only intent on
drawing all the good possible out of this evil in
favor of Louisa . . . and to acquire in solid advan-
tages to her mind and character what she loses in
accomplishments, which are more easily taken up at
any time and of infinitely less consequence.
In the meanwhile we pass our time cheerfully, each
90 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
considering the other: she is become a dear, amiable
companion : we read and work together in the even-
ings, and they do not appear long; and now the
general1 is come, I make him take his turn; we chuse
pleasant books, and we are all in good humour with
one another. She is at present very busy in cloth-
ing a girl that she is to put to school, and is to be
the beginning of one kept by your music master,
who is come to settle at Horringer. Dearest Lou
loves you with the sincerest affection, and begs I will
say so. The house in town is let for three years to
Lord Paget for ^600 a year. I have sent servants
up to-day to prepare for his coming in. God knows
what is your father's plan. Your brother, I fear, will
be much mortified; but perhaps it may help to settle
his affairs, and all may yet turn out well for those I
am most anxious about. I suppose he will come
home now to settle. I must write a line or two to
your dear Duchess. Adieu, my dear Bess.
The Countess of Bristol
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Ickworth Park, February 26, 1783.
My dearest Bess, — I have to thank you for your
great attention in writing to me so frequently on your
journey. I received your letter from Calais (though
late), two from Paris, two from Lyons, one from Aix,
(none from Avignon, as you mentioned), but one
welcome one indeed from Nice. Welcome, my
1 the general — General William Hervey, a brother of the Bishop of Deny.
FROM THE COUNTESS OF BRISTOL. 91
love, indeed, not only from your having passed all
dangers and fatigues, from your being pleased with
the place, well accommodated, well received, &c. &c,
but infinitely dear to me from the change brought
about in your sentiments. Do not lament any longer
my situation or late disappointment, but be assured
that there is none whatever which could have given
me half the satisfaction which I feel on this occasion;
and appease the reproaches of your own mind on
the uneasiness you have given me (which I confess
has been great) by reflecting that you have it still
in your power to make me amends for it. For thou
art the sheep that was lost and is found again, and I
will rejoice over thee. This calm of mind, my dear
child, will wonderfully assist the climate and the
sweet retirement you describe, and bring you back
happy yourself and capable of making your friends so.
Your heavenly friend is every day more and more
the object of my admiration and love. What a note!
from a person apparently absorbed by every worldly
pursuit and gratification. It is so sweet that the
sense akes at it. I saw her often before I left town,
and always with fresh pleasure; and on my coming
hither she had the goodness to take up my prote'ge',
Mr. Parkison, in order to serve him by means of the
Duke of Portland,1 but her humanity to him, con-
descension, and real attention to his affairs have been
beyond any possible description, as I learn from
himself, and I am in hopes he will succeed at last.
As you had received but one of my letters when
''■Duke of Portland— William Henry Cavendish Bentinck, prime minister in 1787
for a few months; home secretary under Pitt from 1794 to 1801; and again prime
minister from 1807 to 1809 (1738-1809).
92 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
you wrote, I hope you have had since in their order
those of the 23rd of January and 7th of February. I
did not write to you on the road, as I always fear
the loss of my letter.
I suppose I have repeatedly told you my situation,
&c, but I believe it is since my last that Lord Paget
has actually hired the house in St. James' Square for
three years, and is now in possession of it. I have
had many reproaches for the vanity and levity of my
character that made me unwilling to adopt so fine a
scheme, but not one word of excuse or concern at
the supposed necessity for it. I own I have never
condescended to answer these accusations. I leave
my whole life to do so. In the meantime I have
accounts from time to time of his great spirits and
happiness in everything that is going on in Ireland,
and he seems quite unconcerned at having placed
me here without a plan, view, object, or improvement
of any sort to occupy a mind so much harassed; but
I thank God I have objects that are out of his reach,
and from which my mind receives such daily comfort
that I hope you will not be uneasy for me. I have
converted this disappointment, I trust, entirely to the
advantage of Louisa. I have called forth all the
best feelings of her excellent heart, and to turn her
from a selfish and pining discontent, I endeavoured
to make myself her object whilst she is mine. It has
answered my wish — her case is to lighten my soli-
tude, et vous pensez bien ma chere qu'elle n'y perd
rien. I have convinced her that she is at an age
not only to bear but to profit by it, and that it is
only severe in the decline of life when prospects are
FROM THE COUNTESS OF BRISTOL. 93
no more. She has adopted the idea, redoubled her
attention to me, endeavoured to improve herself, is
in good spirits, reads, writes, plays, works, rides, and
joins very intelligently in all I read to her. I had the
precaution before I left town to make her dancing-
master promise to come down for a month in the
summer if I did not return; and I hope poor Salva-
tore will come likewise ; but of all this I say not a
word to Ireland. It might be thought too expensive,
and as I am determined to lay out nothing on myself,
I think I have a right to it.
Fred1 has been here to keep her birthday; he
must be removed from Mr. F., who has not behaved
well, and I am trying with your F- to get him to
school, and am uneasy whilst he balances between
that and a private tutor. I have reconciled Fred's
mind more to a school than ever I had been able to
do before; he is a dear boy, and I hope I shall save
him. Mr. F.'s letter is very ex: I think as you do,
and approve so highly of your answer that I could
not help telling the purport of it to Fred and Lou : a
disposition of that sort in him is favorable to yr cha,
though you do not avail yourself of it: he certainly
means me, mais n'importe. I have lately had a letter
from your brother; vastly well; likes the warm sun
as well as you do; is in spirits, and will be more so
when he knows that a peace brings him home. I
should think that S. E. and S. H. would wait for
him at B. ; and I should imagine that if things are
not properly settled for him that they will go abroad,
1 Fred— The writer's son Frederick Hervey, afterwards successively Earl and
Marquis of Bristol. At this time he was only fourteen years of age
94 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
and probably you will all meet. Pray remind Lady
Rivers of me, and assure her that I have not forgot
a beautiful, amiable woman, whom I knew first in
this house. Remember me, too, to Miss Danby, Mr.
Morice, and the B.'s. My Aunt Greene is quite
recovered, and sends her love to you. My sister
well. General H. here for this month past. I make
him hear me read the first part of the evening, and
read to me the latter part. I am quite troubled
about Louchee, and angry with Mr. P., but you must
dispose of her, and if she would draw a veil over her
ugliness, it would do very well. I fear Mr. H.,
too, has not economized sufficiently, and that your
journey has cost you more than we allotted for it;
however, I hope all these matters may be arranged.
Louisa desires me to add her tenderest love. You
have that of your most affectionate mother.
I send this to the dear Duchess. Thank you for
your orange flowers; they gave me agreeable ideas
of your villa.
The Countess of Bristol
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Ickworth Park, March 13, 1783.
I was just going to write to you, dearest Bess,
when your two letters of the 16th and 22nd arrived
by the means of your invaluable friend. It would
be impossible for me to describe the tender emotions
they have raised in me, but of this be assured that
I have no sufferings but what are infinitely over-
FROM THE COUNTESS OF BRISTOL. 95
balanced by the sentiments you express, provided
that you pursue them steadily. You take my
admonitions so well that I have nothing to add
upon that subject, and I am extremely pleased with
the arrangements of your retirement and the limited
acquaintance you receive at your house; something
decisive in your conduct was necessary to make an
impression and to put you upon a new footing, and
I expect the best consequences from it; yet I should
be glad to know how you pass your evenings, and
whether they do not hang heavy on you who have
been used to constant society. I perceive that your
spirits are very low, and I am disappointed at your
not feeling more relieved by so great a change of
climate in three weeks. You say your stomach is a
little better, but you do not mention your breast,
side, or cough, and you complain of fever. How do
you like Mr. Farquhar's friend, and what has he
directed besides orange juice? What is your diet?
Do you keep good hours? and don't you write too
much? I am glad you ride, but how do you manage
it, and what does it cost you, and your house and
servants, &c. ? Pray send me a little plan of all your
doings, that I may attend you in them.
Your father in his last letter to me says he intends
to add ^50 a year to your income, and perhaps
^"ioo if you conduct yourself prudently. I beg you
will be very cautious, in speaking of him to others,
how you throw any blame on him on my account.
I leave him to Heaven and to those thorns that in
his bosom lodge to prick and sting him. I give you
my honor that my situation here is a less painful
g6 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
one than you imagine it. I own I had promised
myself great comfort in being in town, but I have
bent my mind to my circumstances. I have laid
out my disappointment to Louisa's advantage, and
though I should be very happy indeed (believe it,
my dear Bess) with you amidst your orange trees,
yet there are several things of consequence transact-
ing here in which I think I may be able to serve
your brother and poor Fred materially, and I find
great satisfaction in the idea of it — il y a une facheuse
pilleule que je n'ose pas nommer, une insensibilite
dans certains moments critiques et une philosophie si
baroque qu'il y a de quoi se ddsesperer, mais il n'y a
point de remede, et on s'etablit en maltre sans se
faire prier; il faut done tirer parti comme on peut et
vivre au jour la journ^e. I shall long for you to
obtain the request you made to Mr. F. My poor
child, I have always said that you was made for
domestic happiness and domestic duties.
What you tell me of the Duchess goes to my
heart, and will, I hope, be a real comfort to yours.
You have done well, most certainly, to leave your
interest in her hands; for where could it be so well?
But I am pleased at your growing indifference to
those matters, and do not doubt but that your affairs
will be made easy in some way or other. The
Duchess and I do not correspond, but we write
sometimes occasionally. She is vastly obliging to
me, and treats me like your mother, and I love her
as your friend, and, besides that, am charmed with
her disposition and character. She has promised
me a print of herself, and I gave her my sweet
FROM THE COUNTESS OF BRISTOL. 97
miniature of Susanna, which she liked. I hear she
advances happily, which I hope you know long
before this.
The Polignacs are certainly a great acquisition for
you, and I think your stay at Paris and renewal with
them on your return will depend upon circumstances,
of which now I dare say you will judge properly. I
am glad to find Lady Rivers so comfortable to you,
notwithstanding her deafness. One of her daughters,
I believe, is preferable to the other. How do you
like Mrs. Stuart? and have you no acquaintance with
Lady Eliott? Pray write the dangerous Italian's
name a little plainer for I can't make it out; but
avoid him by all means — their whole composition is
intrigue. Poor Miss Danby! I am sorry she has
exchanged one bad complaint for another. You
don't mention Lady Craven, so I hope she is gone
some other way. You must have no intercourse at
all there. She is quite undone, and has not an atom
of character left.
I hope Miss W. will answer to all your care and
their hopes, and then it will be a pleasant circum-
stance between you; but I am sorry she requires
strictness: that is against the bent of her indulgent
governess, but perhaps even that may have a good
effect, and give to a soft heart a firmer texture.
I have heard nothing about H., but I hope that
all is en train to open the eyes on both sides. You
have now no further solicitude about his destination,
and seem to have fixed your conduct upon very
proper principles.
Poor Fred told me he had made you his confidant.
98 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
I cannot get any decisive direction about him, and
he is not well placed where he is. Mr. F. has
behaved ill, and has been led into it, I believe, by
distressed circumstances. Mark that, and fear it,
my dear Ophelia, as much as anything.
I mention no politics, because you have them
fresher from Devonshire House, but never was poor
nation in so distressed and contemptible a situation.
My Aunt Greene is very well, and your warm
friend always. My sister, too, was softened to tears
at the perspective I showed her from your present
plan; continue it, my love, and return to the arms
and grow for ever to the hearts of your family. My
brother is still in town acting like an honest man in
the midst of all this faction. I have not the least
hope of going up; now the house is gone I could not.
Mr. D.' A. — comes Ambassador. Your sister and I
agree that we feel ashamed that he should find us
without an hotel. She has got little benefit from
Bath, poor thing! Always something to fret upon
wears out the machine. Louisa is well, and loves
you tenderly; goes on well, and keeps up her spirits.
Your uncle W. still here, having, I believe, fixed it
as a part of his grand plan not to be in the hay
market till such a day of such a month of the year
1783. Is Mr. Wollaston at Nice? and how is he?
My compliments to La. Rivers, Mr. Morice, Miss D.,
and the Birbecks. I am glad my letters come easy,
and will write oftener, being, my dear child, your
most affectionate mother.
FROM THE COUNTESS OF BRISTOL. 99
The Countess of Bristol
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Ickworth Park, April 12, 1783.
I have two of your letters, my dear Elizabeth, and
one, so late as the 19th of March, I should have hoped
might have brought me the comfortable news of your
amendment, but I search for it in vain, as I do also
for the real cause of your complaint. Is it that we
have been so unlucky as to choose a wrong climate?
You seem to think so, and if it is confirmed to you,
for God's sake change it; or is it still the effects of
your long journey, and the scene you went through;
or a wound that is still festering, though you think
it healed; or the absence from your friends; or the
severe judgment you are passing on yourself?
For your bodily complaints, my dearest Bess, you
must be governed by others, and if you must remove,
I suppose La R. has decided you in favor of Lyons.
It is a long journey, but if Nice is thought improper
for next winter you may as well be there as anywhere
else, except you could find a cool place nearer to
where you are to pass the next winter. I should
hope you would not be determined by the motive
you mention of hearing sooner of your friend, dear
as she is, and natural as it is for you to make it an
object, but I beg your health may be the first, and
the more as you are doing everything which can
make it valuable to yourself and your friends. Lyons,
too, is a little Paris, and I don't know how you could
live there en retraite.
100 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
As to Italy, though at this time one cannot think
of it without horror, yet I am very sensible that after
un tal sfuogo it may be next year safer than ever:
but it is a terrible journey; you are alone, and I do
not see how in your unfortunate circumstances you
can either profit of the advantages, or bear the ex-
pence of it, and though you say that Miss W. would
go with you, and lessen the expence of it, yet I con-
fess I think it is one thing to carry her with you for
health to a place of retirement, and another to act as
a mother to her all over the world; neither do I
think it would put you in a proper light in Italy, but
I am too far off to wish you to rely absolutely upon
me. I would have you do what is best, but circum-
stances and good opinions must decide you — only
remember L. A. P., and how often people advise and
persuade what in their serious judgment they dis-
approve. I could not help making many reflections
on that approbation which you forced from him for
having refused what he had solicited. I hope you
made some too, but I am sure you did, for all you
say gives me hope and comfort.
I am sorry that my banishment should sit so heavy
upon you, my dear Bess; the manner of it was, to be
sure, cruel, but I hope I shall turn it all to good
account; and as to the mere solitude, you know
nobody minds it less than I do. I assure you upon
my honor, that my health and spirits are good, and
that if I have now more time for reflection, I have
also subjects of more content for it. You, my dearest
child, make a great part of this, for I cannot but
flatter myself that you are getting into port again,
102 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
well drawn up, and shews that he has been cruelly
and unjustly treated. Louisa is very happy at this
arrangement, and has been very eager with some new
music which he brought down. She goes on in every
respect as I could wish, health, spirits, sentiments,
application, &c, loves proper reading, shews taste in
it, and never finds her time upon her hands, &c.
I am sorry to say that I have not the same satis-
faction with poor Fred, though he has no fault in it;
but your father has determined on sending for him
to Ireland, and having a private tutor. I have said
everything that was possible to dissuade him from it,
even to pointing out his improper treatment of him,
for this was my duty, coute que coute; he has taken
it very well, ne s'est point offense, calls it good sense
but reasoned on false principles; and, in short, de-
sires me finally to leave him to him, so there is an
end of it, and I can do nothing but wish and pray
that he may do well.
I know the Sir Rob. S. you mention a little, and
think him very sensible, but odd tempered. La. M.
Fitz talks of going to Ireland next month. Mr. Fitz
is out of confinement. I suppose you hear often
from Bath. Lord Rodney1 is now there, and they
are both inamorato morto di lui; he says your B.2
may be at home next month. Pray remember me to
my old admirer, &c. Pray say something pretty to
Madame Birbeck: I thought she had been dead, but
tell her I am very glad to hear she is so much
1 Lord Rodney — The famous British admiral, who had defeated the French fleet
in the West Indies (1718-1792).
''•your B — The writer's son, already referred to as "Jack " in letter of December
12, 1778.
FROM THE COUNTESS OF BRISTOL. 103
better than when I had the pleasure of knowing her
at Marseilles, &c. Poor soul, I believe she was un-
happy there, and that he was a Birbo,1 so pray soothe
her a little. Adieu. I send this by the dear Duchess.
What heavenly good nature and attention she shewed
to you in that .£20! Do you know whether she ever
sees Mrs. Cosway? I think I could one day prove
to her that she is unworthy of her notice, and I wish
you would mention it. God bless you! . . .
The Countess of Bristol
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Ickworth Park, April 16, 1783.
The inclosed letter from your brother, my dear
Bess, arrived last night, and I hasten to send it to
your charming friend to forward to you. I have
one by the same pacquet, and as mine is wrote in
very low spirits, I must caution you against any
infection from yours, and desire you to recollect how
the news of the peace (which he had not then heard)
will have rejoiced him, together with some other
circumstances which are in his favor more than he
expected.
I thank you, my dear, for your frequent letters,
and for your pretty account of the dedication of the
fountain, which was a rural compliment very well
turned, and what, I think, may, without any self-
reproach, give you half-an-hour's pleasure; but if the
attentions you mention are really in so respectful a
* Birio — Italian birtone, a worthless fellow.
104 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
style — I mean generally so, and not from a designing
individual like Eh (who sacrificed the very character
he pretended to revere) — I think you have the
greatest reason to be pleased and the strongest
inducement to go on in your new system.
I am sorry you think of leaving Nice so soon, but,
as I said before, it is impossible to give advice at
this distance. I have only to hope that you do not
sacrifice great points to lesser ones. I have just
heard from Barmeath1 your dear little boys are vastly
well. Dr. Foster has been given over, but is better
again. I long to hear whether that letter of Mr. F-
to you is to produce anything.
Adieu ! my love. I cannot write to-day, having a
thousand embarras, servants inoculating, others ill,
contrivances, orders, &c. I expect my brother from
London, too, to-day, and we will talk of you. I do
not ride, for, if I had a mind to do it, your father
has taken my horse without saying a word to me.
Salvatore is not yet here. I expect him next month;
he is to be at Bury, and come up every morning.
Louisa desires her love. I will take care to make
all your excuses about writing. I wish you was
not so punctual in that article with H., for by that
means you make absence no advantage, and you are
still the dupe of his expressions. The Duchess of
Devonshire assures me that she is vastly well, and,
as she has been all the time so prudent and manage-
able, I think there is nothing to fear.
I long for your Italian letters, the verses, and Mr.
Robertson's answer, as also for further particulars of
1 Barmeath — A mansion near Dunleer, Co. Louth.
FROM THE COUNTESS OF BRISTOL. 105
your travelling scheme, which I do not comprehend.
You will not forget that Switzerland and Geneva are
dear places for strangers. Adieu! Ever affection-
ately yours.
The Countess of Bristol
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Ickworth Park, Dec. 26, 1783.
I received your letter from Rome of the 27th
November, my dear Bess, a little before that of the
10th from Florence; I don't know by what accident,
but the dear Duchess who sent it to me said she
supposed the French Ambassador had had it some
time in his hands; and, as she did not mention
having received one of an earlier date, I wrote to
her to say what I knew of you, and I knew she
would be glad to hear. She is comforting her poor
mother1 at St. Albans, and I am happy to find is so
well recovered herself as to be able to go on with
her nursing, and to succeed extremely in it.
This overturn of the ministry will, I am afraid,
vex her, but in the present moment of confusion it
is hard to say what may be the consequence of it, or
whether they may not come in again stronger than
before. On an expectation of the Parliament being
dissolved, your brother came down to me to try
again at Bury; but as that is not to be, he is spared
some trouble, and myself much disquiet, from the
difficulty of acting in all matters so as to content
your father. We are going to set out together for
1 her poor mother— -Margaret Georgiana Poyntz, Countess Spencer, d. 1814. The
death of her husband, Earl Spencer, had recently taken place.
106 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Valentine, and by being so near London I shall hear
more frequently how the arrangements and negotia-
tions go on, and whether Mr. Pitt can form an
administration to go on with him : Lord Mul1 is one
of his adherents.
I am very sorry, my dear Bess, if anything I have
wrote to you has given you the smallest idea of my
being refroidi towards you. No, my poor suffering
child, my tenderness is always the same; nay, more,
my reliance on your good intentions, and on the
desire you have to throw a drop of comfort into my
bitter cup, which, I repeat to you, is always in your
power; but when I see you borne away by the
defects in your character, or blinded by your own
approbation acting so as I think will provoke the
censure of the world, I must tell you of it. I hope
it is not with aigreur, but I own it is with strong
feelings, because I see you in a situation in which
you have everything against you. I am grieved to
say that your father's very extraordinary conduct
has given rise to many ill-natured reflections on
the whole family.
I have lost poor Mrs. Ashburner's letter and direc-
tion, but if you wish me so much to write to her,
and will send it to me, I will certainly do it. I
do not understand Lady Cow's2 situation by your
account of her. Pray explain it, and how you found
poor, dear Emily, and if she mentioned having heard
from me. I am glad you saw things so agreeably
there, but I was impatient to have you out of that
climate, which I know is a bad place for you late in
1 Lord Mul— Lord Mulgrave. ''■Lady Com— Probably for Lady Cowper.
FROM THE COUNTESS OF BRISTOL. 107
the year. You will soon have the Emperor, I find,
in Italy, so you will have an opportunity of seeing
many crowned heads and extraordinary characters.
I am not surprised at the avidity with which you
have gone to the great objects of curiosity and
admiration at Rome; and to tell you the truth, am
glad Mr. Byres was absent, because I think Mr.
Jenkins will be a pleasanter cicerone, as he knows as
much, and will communicate his instruction less en
routine. You will find him in all things, I hope, an
intelligent, useful, and friendly man ; and, indeed, he
has already given a proof of it in the circumstance
you mention. Pray remember me very particularly
to him. I shall never forget his attention to me in
my distresses at Castello. I will not write to him
till I return.
I find your father has not paid him the last year's
pensions he is so good as to distribute for him. I
wish it may be only forgetfulness, but for some time
past everything has been neglected on this side of
St. George's Channel. He took some of them begun
by me out of my hands (I believe) for fear I should
have the merit of it.
I don't know how I expressed myself about Salva-
tore, for he is in London, and of course cannot be
employed by you, but may be served by your good
report. I am glad you find people at Rome that
speak favorably of him. I was afraid that that
scandalous imprisonment had hurt him there. I
wonder Cardinal Bernis should speak of me whom
he never saw, and not of your father, whom I sup-
posed he had admired and saw often. . . .
108 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
The Countess of Bristol
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Ickworth F 'ark, January 26, 1784.
My dear Elizabeth, — I have two of your letters
from Rome, one of which I received at your brother's,
and one since my return home. I thank you for
the account of what you see. The principal things I
remember; but I had not the advantages you have,
nor any guide given me, much less so good a one
as Mr. Jenkins. Indeed, he does not act in that
capacity, and it is a particular attention to you. I
am glad you made my message more acceptable to
him by making it public. I would give him every
testimony of my regard, for I was in misery, and he
helped me. As to Cardinal Bernis, I don't wonder
at your surprise that I should not even know one
with whom your father was so much acquainted, but
I soon found that we could not go together. I
wished much to have seen him, am sure I should
have liked him, and have my disappointment un-
expectedly made up to me by his kindness to you.
The footing you have put yourself upon, my dear
Bess, gives me great pleasure, and Mr. I. confirms it
to me, but do not rely upon the praises of one who
has acted so different a part. They are false : pursue
your own plan, and give her no opportunity of
intimacy to overturn it. I dare not name names,
but I dare say you will understand me; if not, your
cicerone can explain the living as well as the dead;
but since all is quiet at Naples, and since you must
FROM THE COUNTESS OF BRISTOL. 109
go there, I rejoice much at your Danish friend, who
is probably of a different character from any other
woman you see; but I almost envy you the oppor-
tunity of knowing the Emperor1 and King of Sweden,2
two characters which have excited my curiosity
extremely, and which you seem to have sifted so
well. All is safe, too, at Venice. Well, I am rejoiced
at it; and if you have tolerable weather, you have
escaped from the most severe winter I ever saw,
and must be a gainer, I hope a great one, in many
points; but you still complain of your chest. Etes
vous sage, ma chere fille? Do you avoid cold? do
you keep to regimen? do you follow Pipot? Above
all, don't let even S. tempt you to sing.
I sent you word of Sir R. Smyth's death; his son
was with him to the last, but he made no alteration
in his favor: he has left him nothing; but what falls
to him, and what he had before, gives him an income
of about ^1400 a year. Mrs. Brand has behaved
very handsomely to him, and he very unkindly to
her.
I have to inform you of the death of one which
will affect you more — poor Dr. Foster — which account
came very kindly to me from Miss Bellew in order
to transmit to you. I know you will be very uneasy
about the poor boys, but I think Mr. Foster will be
inclined to leave them there, and that if you request
it of the Marshalls that they will keep them; as to
what you ask me about your father and Mr. Foster,
I suppose they have quarrelled, for I wrote to him
1 the Emperor— Alexander I., Emperor of Russia (1777-1825).
* King of Sweden— Gustavus III. (1746-1792).
IIO THE TWO DUCHESSES.
when he was in Dublin to beg he would get your
settlement registered, and his answer was that he
would have nothing more to do with Mr. F. I will
let you know whatever I hear from Dunleer. In the
meantime do not let your imagination be too busy,
for our real evils are enough and more than we can
well cope with.
I must not finish this letter without saying some-
thing of Valentine: it is really a pretty place and
very comfortable house, but there are some incon-
veniences belonging to it, and I wish your brother, if
possible, to get rid of it. Lady Hervey1 is not very
well, and they talk of going to Spa early in the
season; and your sister, who is not at all so, has
promised me to go whether they go or no. Your
brother is grown fat and looks vastly well, and the
two little cousins are au mieux.
I will say nothing of Irish politics, and English
ones are in such a state of confusion at this moment
that nothing can be said of them.
I will remember you to your Aunts when I see
them, and to my brother, who is in the country; but
we are all shut up by the snow. Your uncle William
is with me, and has just done a very friendly thing
by your brother. He and Louisa send their love to
you. Remember me to Mr. Jenkins. Have you
never been at Batoni's?2 I am well and calm though
I live in a storm, and evermore your affectionate
mother.
1 Lady Hervey — Elizabeth, daughter of Colin Campbell of Quebec, and wife of
John Augustus Lord Hervey, eldest son of the Bishop of Deny, d. 1818.
^Batoni — Pompeo Batoni, Italian painter (1708-1787).
FROM RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN. m
Richard Brinsley Sheridan}
To Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire.
Crewe, October 29, 1786.
My dear Duchess, — I have waited with the
greatest impatience for the hour of liberty to remind
you and Lady Elizabeth of one who never thinks of
either of you without a mixture of pleasure and pain.
I hope it is not necessary for me to entreat you both
not to forget me. I am more interested in your
happiness than half those who, with fine speeches
and cold hearts, impose on your natural openness
and sincerity; and, though it is impossible for those
who know you at all not to love you, yet I will be
confident in saying they cannot feel towards you as
I do and must, after all that passed at C.
I passed two days at Capethon, with its inhabi-
tants, and Sir George and Lady Warren. I wandered
about all day alone, and by recalling the past made
the present less disagreeable. It is not often I
indulge myself in these solitary rambles; though it is
most pleasing to me in general, it unfits me for the
part I am too often obliged to act; but I could not
find words to answer all the fine speeches and
pressing invitations of Lady Warren. My eyes were
so dazzled by the glitter of her diamonds and
trinkets, and the sound of her voice almost con-
vinced me I was at a crowded assembly in town. I
fled from the idea and from her, and, if wishes had
wings, you would have seen me again at C.
1 Richard Brinsley Sheridan~(i7$i-i.&i6). — See Appendix
112 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
We came here Friday morning; there are many
people in the house, but, as I am quite sure they are
quite as uninteresting to you as to myself, I will not
mention them. I must except Mr. Hare,1 who must be
pleasant anywhere; his business is put off, I find, for
he does not talk of going away. Charles Greville
likewise is here, but I do not find he has been
talking, consequently he has no suspicion of what
you imagined, otherwise you may be assured Mrs.
C. would have been acquainted with them. She has
asked me a thousand questions of various kinds, to
all which I have answered as I would to the town
Cryer if I was questioned by him. I believe she
feels that my heart is shut against her, and behaves
accordingly; but I dare not complain, nor would it
be of any service to me if I did; she is of an
unhappy disposition, and there are moments when,
in spight of her behaviour, I feel inclined to pity
her: for my own part all situations are pretty much
the same to me when there are cribbage or whist
parties ; there at least I escape observation ; a grave
look may denote a bad hand, and an accidental sigh
may be that of regret for getting out a wrong card;
here I find it doubly necessary to be so occupied, for
the attention of Friendship does not suffer a word
or look to escape, and by officious enquiries of my
health or spirits point out an occasion for reproach
to him whom I wish always to see happy by appear-
ing perfectly so myself.
When shall I hear from you? I am very anxious
1 Mr. Hare — James Hare, wit and politician. See the lines on him on a sub-
sequent page.
FROM THE COUNTESS OF BRISTOL. 113
to know how you are, and how things are going on.
I see by the papers the Duke is gone. I hope you
have influence enough over him to persuade him to
resign. I am sure he ought. Pray when you write
assure him of my regard and Friendship, indeed no
more. Tell him the only thing in the world that
would give me the greatest satisfaction is to think
him perfectly happy, and in that wish I know I shall
be joined by you. God bless you, my dear Duchess;
pray believe that my heart is anxiously interested in
all that concerns you, and that my warmest prayers
are offered up for your happiness, let it depend on
what it will. Pray believe this, and that I am, with
the greatest affection and sincerity, ever yours,
Sheridan.
My best love to Lady Elizabeth; tell her Mrs.
C.'s greatest insight to me is the having expressed
myself as I feel about her.
The Countess of Bristol
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Bruton St., Jan. 22, 1792.
My dear Elizabeth, — I found a letter from Mrs.
Bellew when I arrived here two days ago which I
eagerly opened, as it was to answer my inquiries
after your poor boys. The account is so pleasing a
one that I will give you her own words, her letter is
of the 8th of this month : "I had the pleasure of
seeing the dear little Fosters here yesterday. They
spent the day with us, and are perfectly well now,
I 14 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
and both very fine boys. Frederick is very senti-
mental, sedate, and sensible; he had for a time
severe chillblains, but is now well of them; the
youngest seems arch, lively, and sensible, and I
think has much of Lord Bristol in him, and they are
very good-natured boys, and always seem happy to
see us; indeed, the father seems very fond of both,
and takes great care of them." I was in a hurry to
write this, my dear Bess, though it could not reach
you the sooner, and trusted to having time to finish
my letter to-day, but the great racket and perplexity
of arranging things and people, Louisa's being ill of
a cold and cough, and a number of little plagues
leave me but little time for it; however, I will just
add that I think everything is settled for the mutual
advantage of all parties. I was going to have ex-
plained to you, but Louisa tells me she has done so,
and I will therefore only say that I have got a very
good bed-chamber myself, and that hers is next to it,
at which I know you will rejoice for me. We have
not stirred from the house on account of her cold
and my business, and, on account of both, have made
our arrival so little known that we have seen but
few people. I have just sent to Devonshire House.
How vexatious that your poor little muso1 is not
there, and where is it? for that I cannot figure to
myself. I do wish it out of France — for though I
think war further off than ever, I do not like to
have you exposed to the accidents belonging to the
present anxiety of it, but I must have patience per
force. . . .
1 muso — Italian for muzzle, face.
FROM EDWARD GIBBON. 115
Edward Gibbon1
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
I know not whether you are already informed of
the sudden death of poor Lady Sheffield2 after four
days' illness, but I am sure that your feeling, affec-
tionate mind will not be surprized to hear that I set
out for England next week, and that a journey
undertaken at the call of friendship. All the dragons
of the way have already vanished. I go by Basle,
Frankfort, Cologne, Brussels, and Ostend, and I
flatter myself that the success of our allied arms will
contribute every week to open my passage; it is even
possible, though scarcely probable, that I may embark
from the English town of Calais. Your answer
to my last letter is doubtless on the road and will
follow me, but you must write immediately to Shef-
field Place, and I promise you a speedy and sincere
account of our afflicted friend. I wish to hear of
your motions and projects. I now sigh for your
return to England, and shall be most bitterly disap-
pointed if I have not the pleasure of seeing you in
that happy island — yourself and the most amiable of
Dutchesses before the end of the autumn. I cannot
look with confidence beyond that period. My
friend and your Chevalier will guard me as far as
Cologne or Frankfort; his tender attachment to his
mother, who is still very melancholy, will recall him
from thence to Lausanne, but in the course of next
1 Gibbon — The historian (1737-1704)-
2 Lady Sheffield— Abigail Way, wife of the first Earl of Sheffield, Gibbon's most
intimate friend, and editor of his posthumous works.
Il6 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
winter he has thoughts of visiting England. The
circumstances of the times, which impoverish every-
one, have persuaded him to listen to my advice of
conducting on his travels some English pupill of
fashion and fortune. Such a pupill will be fortunate
in finding a real gentleman, and I trust that the
Dutchess and yourself will exert your omnipotence in
providing some connection equally honourable and
advantageous for my friend and your sincere Votary.
Adieu. Excuse brevity, and address a Classic
prayer in my behalf before some statue of Mercury,
the god of travellers.
Lausanne, May the $th, 1793.
The Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry
To Lady Elisabeth Foster.
Naples, March 6, 1796.
Dearest Elizabeth, — I did not expect a second
letter of yours from Goodwood1 without a plan and
elevation of that model of a house you admire so
much and prefer to mine. A few guineas, my child,
would have procured it, and you know I am not
niggard of them, especially where architecture is
concerned. I am certain, on your speaking to the
Duke of Richmond, he will order it immediately;
you may fold it up in a large letter, and I receive it
time enough to adopt any improvements it contains.
You beg me on your knees that Ickworth house
may be built of white stone brick. You know, my
1 Goodwood— -The country seat of the Duke of Richmond in Sussex.
FROM THE EARL OF BRISTOL. 1 17
dear, what Ranger says to his cousin, and upon my
knees I beg you too. What, child, build my house of
a brick that looks like sick, pale, jaundiced red brick
that would be red brick if it could, and to which I
am certain our posterity will give a little rouge as
essential to its health and beauty? White brick
always looks as if the bricklayers had not burnt it
sufficiently, had been niggardly of the fuel; it looks
all dough and no crust. I am ever looking out for
its crust, so, my dear, I shall follow dear impeccable
Palladio's rule, and as nothing ought to be without
a covering in our raw damp climate, I shall cover
house, pillars, and pilasters with Palladio's stucco,
which has now lasted 270 years. It has succeeded
perfectly well with me at Downhill on that temple of
the winds, and as well at my Casino of Derry — that
temple of Cloacina. It has resisted the frosts and
the rains of Vicenza c'est tout dire, and deceives the
most acute eye till within a foot.
We have Lord Macartney1 here these eight days.
They had him at Court twice, and have squeezed
this China orange so close they left him nothing
but the pulp. What restless perturbed spirits he
has, that in the course of his short life he has visited
Petersburgh and Grenada, Madras and Pekin, and
is now reduced to a mock embassy to a mock king.
A propos I passed two hours and a half with this
King of Candides; he is no Carnival King, how-
ever, that is certain, but un vrai Roi de Cardme. I
''■Lord Macartney— Lord Macartney was at the head of the first British mission
ever sent to China, in 1792. The " mock king " here referred to was Louis XVIII.,
at this time an exile, to whom Lord Macartney was sent on a confidential mission
(1737-1806).
Il8 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
never conversed with a more pleasing, cheerfuller,
easier, better-informed man in any country. Adver-
sity has not soured but sweetened him, and turned
all his vinegar to oil.
I am truly delighted you are so much so with the
picture I sent Louisa. 'Tis a real bijoux, and just fit
for her breakfast-room, but you say nothing of the
Berlin dejennS which I reckon a great cadeau, and
when it stands on a tripod of Siberian ?nalachite will
be impayable.
What say you to my idea of a gallery of German
painters contrasted with a gallery of Italian painters,
from Albert Durer1 to Angelica Kauffman,2 and
from Cimabue3 to Pompeio Battoni,4 each divided by
pilasters into their respective school — Venetian for
colouring, Bologna for composition, Florence for
designs, Rome for sentiment, and Naples for nothing
at all? But the Homer of Painting is in my mind in
Germany, Rembrandt? and the author of the Descent
from the Cross6 at Antwerp. Raphael7 and all Italian
painters are the Minor Poets of Painting, the Garths,8
the Gays,9 the Priors,10 but there is not a Shakespeare^
among them. Michael Angelo12 is mad, not sublime;
ludicrous, not dignified. He is the Dante15 of painters
as Dante is the Michael Angelo of poets. The
I Albert Durer— (1471-1528). ''■Angelica Kauffman — (1742-1807).
3 Cimabue — Giovanni C. — (1240-1300).
* Pompeio Battoni — Pompeo Batoni (1708-1787).
0 Rembrandt — Rembrandt van Ryn (1606-1669).
6 the author of the Descent from the Cross — Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640).
''Raphael — Raffaelle Sanzio (1483-1520).
8 Garth — Sir Samuel Garth (1661-1719).
9 Gay— John Gay (1685-1732). 10 Prior— Matthew Prior (1664-1721).
II Shakespeare — (1564- 1616).
18 Michael Angelo — Michael Angelo Buonarotti (1475-1564).
13 Dante — Dante Alighieri (1265-1321).
FROM THE EARL OF BRISTOL. 119
picture of the last Judgment is so tragi-comical 'tis
difficult to say what passion it excites most; and St.
Barthleme, all flayed, who holds up his skin as his
ticket of admittance into Heaven, is worthy only of
Bartholomew fair. Adieu. This is the fortieth day
I am in bed unremittingly, reduced to a shadow, yet
devouring like a shark. My pulse is a pulse of
threads scarce to be felt. The King and Queen supply
me with game, and I make game of everybody.
The House — -The House — The House.
The Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Pyrmont, August 1, 1796.
Dearest Elizabeth, — Though I would not for the
world itself disappoint your poor brother's1 hopes if
his noble and generous heart be really engaged, nor
even diminish of one obole the allowance I should
be able to make him, which is exactly the same I
gave your poor dear eldest brother, yet I must con-
fess it would half break my heart to see his fixed on
any other than the beautiful, elegant, important, and
interesting object I have proposed to him. At least,
dearest Eliza, if you have any interest with him, in-
duce him, beg him, my dear, not to decide before he
is able to chuse. She would bring into our family
,£5000 a year, besides a Principality in Germany, an
J your poor brother— Frederick, who by the death of his elder brother, also here
referred to, had become Lord Hervey. He was afterwards Earl and Marquis of
Bristol (1769-1859).
120 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
English Dukedom for Frederick or me, which the
King of Prussia1 is determined to obtain in case the
marriage takes place, a perpetual relationship with
both the Princess of Wales2 and her children, as also
with the Duchess of York3 and her progeny, the
Embassy to Berlin, with such an influence and pre-
ponderance in favor of dear England as no other
could withstand. Add to all this, the King is so
tent upon it, from his great partiality to me, that I
doubt not his doubling the dot in case F. desired it,
which indeed I should not. We are, besides, all
determined to go and meet him the moment we hear
of his debarking, which he may notify by estafette.
In short, nothing would be more brilliant, or flatter-
ing, or more cordial than his reception in case he can
think with us; and indeed, dearest Elizabeth, the
examples he has before his eyes in and within his
own family ought fully to determine him against a
love match; 'tis so ominous a lottery, so pregnant
with blanks, so improbable a success. In short,
dearest Elizabeth, write to me soon; above all, See
him. All I desire of him is not to resolve against
us; not to throw away a Pearl richer than all his
tribe; let him but see before he decides, let him
weigh all we offer to his ambition, his ease, his com-
fort, his taste, and his pocket.
1 the King of Prussia — Frederick William II. (1744.-1797).
2 Princess of Wales — Princess Caroline, daughter of Charles, Duke of Brunswick
(1768-1821).
3 Duchess of York — Daughter of Frederick William II., King of Prussia, and wife
of the Duke of York, son of George III. , d. 1820.
FROM THE EARL OF BRISTOL. 121
The Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Pyrmont, August 4, 1796.
Dearest Elizabeth, — I have wrote warmly and
fully to your dear brother on my project of marrying
him to one of the prettiest, sweetest, most delicate,
and innocent, as well as accomplished little women I
ever saw, endowed with ,£100,000 down, besides the
reversion of a landed property in Germany, with the
promise of a Dukedom to him or me, as the King of
Prussia can obtain it from our King. On the con-
trary, though, God forbid I should negative his
inclinations, poor fellow, at his time of life, and in his
state of health, [I wish] to dissuade him all I can (and
I entreat your assistance, sweet Elizabeth) from his
present pursuit. She has little or no fortune. Your
brother by the last act of settlement can make no
provision for either her or her children, and if he
should die within five or six years — which the per-
turbed state of his mind might easily produce— what
must be the consequence to his widow and her
orphans? Once married and the first heat of passion
allayed, what must be the state of an anxious debili-
tated mind ?
Dearest Elizabeth, — Farquhar1 himself could not
ensure his poor life for a year more after black and
melancholy ideas should begin to possess his mind.
Relief would neither be in his power nor in mine,
and medicine would be the more ineffectual as the
malady would be in the mind.
1 Farquhar— -Sir Walter Farquhar, Bart. , a celebrated physician.
122 TKF. TWO DUCHESSES.
If you care, my dear child, to accompany your
brother to Pyrmont, and from thence to pass the
winter at Naples, I will gladly pay your expenses,
and be glad of your company for the winter. The
King of Prussia has been good enough to write by
Express to the Directory at Paris requesting a pass-
port for Lord Hervey and his suite to land at
Ostend and pass through the Low Countries to Pyr-
mont. . . . [Torn.] At anyrate, my dear Elizabeth,
try to dissuade him from a passion and a pursuit so
pregnant with evil consequences to the quiet of his
mind and the health of his body, whilst on the other
hand I offer a real Cornucopia.
The Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Pyrmont, August 16, '96.
You nasty little Imp of Silence! What are you
doing that one can hear no more about you than if
one did not care for you, and yet who do I care for
more?
I wrote your brother that he might bring your
ugly face with him, and we would all go to Naples,
where I have, without exception, the handsomest and
best situated house there; fourteen rooms on each
floor all hung with Rafaels, Titians,1 and what not.
Then how happy the queen to see you, and the
delicious evenings we should pass with her. Your
brother is to receive by estafette a passport from the
1 Titian — Tiziano Vecellio {1477-1576).
FROM THE EARL OF BRISTOL. 1 23
Directory to land at Ostend and come to me through
Brabant. That would be the road for you, eight
hours' sail and no more. Then, what a journey to-
gether, and a month's residence at Sans Souci, which
the king has just lent me with his cooks, his manors,
library, gallery, &c. Oh! if I can accomplish my
heart and soul's desire to join your dear brother's
hand with La Comtesse de la Marche1 — ^5000 a
year down, ^5000 more in reversion, an English
Dukedom, probably the embassy to Berlin — por Dio
che piacere. The King gave me his honor to pass
next summer at Ickworth if there be a peace.
The Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Pyrmont, August 27, '96.
Dearest Elizabeth, — Are you alive or dead, or are
you on a journey? Or perchance she sleepeth? If
so, at least dream a little, or walk in your sleep, or
talk in your sleep, for I have no patience with your
long, very long, silence. I proposed to your dear
brother to bring you with him first to Pyrmont, then
to Naples, where you know what pleasures, intel-
lectual and sensual, await you, and neither your
journey nor your abode shall cost you one farthing;
and I think the climate, to say nothing of other
circumstances, would do ye both service. What I
have most at heart in this moment is your brother's
marriage with The Comtesse de la Marche, the King
1 La Comtesse de la Marche— -See Appendix.
124 THE TW0 DUCHESSES.
of Prussia's daughter, of which I have wrote to you
so fully; but I would not on any account have you
teaze him about it how ardently soever I may wish
it, especially as he seems inclined to another project.
But see the difference:
On my side. On his side.
,£5000 a year down. No fortune.
^5000 a year in reversion. Wife and children beggars for
An English Dukedom, which the want of settlement.
King pledges to obtain. No connexion.
Royal connexion — Princess of A love match, like all others for
Wales, and Duchess of York. four generations before him.
Sweet Elizabeth, when occasion serves, help me to
accomplish my project. I cannot, if I would, afford
him more than ^"2000 a year whilst my house is
building and furnishing. What is that in London ?
But on my plan. On his plan.
^2000 from me. ^2000.
^5000 Dowry. Wife and children, and no settle-
,£3000 Embassy to Berlin or ment.
Munich.
,£10,000
The Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Pyrmont, September n, 1796.
Dearest Elizabeth, — Your are a dear, amiable
little girl not to have called on me for your sugar
plums in this year of distress and confusion, for by
the last balance of my accounts with Messrs. Gosling1
there remained but one hundred pounds in their
1 Messrs. Gosling— Bankers in London.
FROM THE EARL OF BRISTOL. 1 25
hands, and several of my own drafts from Italy have
been protested, which is both expensive and dis-
graceful, so that you see, my dear child, I had little
left to be generous with, having scarce withal to fill
the duties of Justice.
Lord Hervey.
And now, my dear child, for poor, dear Frederick's
affair; and it amazes myself when I recollect the
object the nearest to my heart for these last twelve
or fourteen years. I thought I could be content to
vegetate for the remainder of my green old age
among painters and sculptors, masons and brick-
layers, and was not aware of the very deep interest
this warm, sensible heart of mine was likely to take
in any project whatever; but I own to you the idea
of fixing a son of your brother's superior and pre-
eminent qualities, both moral and intellectual, in a
station worthy of him and of us all has kindled anew
the almost extinguished sparks, the very embers of
my expiring and effete ambition. To see him in
possession of a station where his interest can be as
independent as his spirit, and take a bond of Fate;
to see him fixed where he can essentially and proudly
serve the greatest country that ever reared citizens,
and the ablest minister1 that ever served a country,
was a prospect to which my dim eyes did not yet
reach : then to see that project tumbled down to a
Chateau d'Espagne in the regions of love and fancy;
to see him a bankrupt in the most problematical
and disadvantageously fascinating Lottery with 500
1 the ablest minister— William Pitt (1759-1806).
126 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
blanks to one prize, would put even my philosophy,
triumphant as it yet is, to the proof. Aid me, there-
fore, my dearest child, to eradicate, if possible, his
own project from his mind, and then to establish
mine. The first object is to get him abroad, where,
if you can, I dare say you will, accompany him; then
to secure his health of body and tranquillity of mind:
a winter passed in England at this period of his
malady, both of mind and body, cannot but be fatal;
whereas a warm air bath at Naples, in that most
balmy of all atmospheres, amidst music, friends, and
dissipation, will be as soothing to his mind as the
climate to his body; and as I, on account of my own
horses, never travel above 25 or 30 miles a day, and
have always saddle-horses at hand, he can not fear
fatigue. As to his love project, thus stands our
account:
On my project.
1. A lady without fortune, with- 1. A lady with ^10,000 a year
out connexions. instead of ^5000, and five
2. No possible settlement on more in reversion,
my part nor on Lord Her- 2. An English Dukedom,
vey's. 3. The highest and most desir-
3. All my Irish leasehold estates able of all connexions.
entailed long ago on H. 4. Peace of Mind for me and
Bruce1 and his children; on himself.
Theo. Bruce and his chil- This is your brief, and I expect
dren; on your two sons; you to plead with eloquence
on Caroline; and finally on the cause of us all.
Frederick, with a clause in
favor of myself.
4. Therefore poverty, famine,
and omnipotent love for her
and her children.
1 H. Bruce— Rev. Sir Henry Hervey Aston Bruce, Bart., d. 1822.
FROM THE EARL OF BRISTOL. 1 27
He says his honor is engaged; so it is — not to
entail poverty and famine on her and her younger
children. Your late brother has left me a debt of
,£15,000 to pay — £10,000 to his daughter and
£5000 to his creditors: judge of my means, and
believe me, as ever, yours.
The Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Pyrmont (or Berlin), Sept. 14, 1796.
If I have anything to ask of you, my dearest
Elizabeth, it is that in case your brother gets a
cough in the course of the winter, you beg of Lord
Spencer1 a frigate, and send him off directly to me at
Naples, ever yours, B.
P.S. — Nothing can equal the Deroute of the
damned Blackguard, pilfering, plundering, pillaging
Republicans. Neither Minden2 nor Rosbach3 can
compare with it: all their artillery, all their baggage,
all their waggons loaded with contributions, all taken :
we have here two officers and the son of our apothe-
cary just arrived from Frankfort, who not only con-
firm all this, who were ocular witnesses to these
ourang outangs running like themselves without
shoes, stockings, or breeches, and the exasperated
peasants knocking them down, like real monkeys,
1Lord Spencer — The second Earl Spencer (brother of Georgiana, Duchess of
Devonshire), First Lord of the Admiralty in Pitt's government (1758-1831).
'Minden— -The French were defeated by an army of Anglo-Hanoverians near
Minden, in Westphalia, in 1759.
^ Rosbach— Rossbach, in Prussian Saxony. Here Frederick the Great defeated
the allied Austrian and French armies in 1757.
128 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
their prototypes, with bludgeons, pitchforks, staves,
all that came to hand, "furor arma ministrat" 12,000
dead on the road or the field, 900 waggons loaded
with wounded, that is 9000 wounded, and the Aus-
trians in Frankfort before the rear guard left it.
The Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Frankfort, Sept. 26, 1796.
Dearest Elizabeth, — Here is the most consolatory
Gazette I have read of a long time, and I inclose it
as a receipt to cure you of a migraine. Nothing
can be more brilliant than the successes of our
two heroes, the Archduke Charles,1 and the Prince
Frederick of Orange, except their own exertion to
obtain them. They are idolized by their armies,
and amply supported by their courage. The last
accounts I have seen of Moreau's2 defeat near Munich
carry the number of dead up to 15,000, the wounded
9000, and the prisoners 7000. If the Austrians can
carry the fort of Kehl, Strasburg, entirely com-
manded by it, must fall, and then France will begin
to feel the iron hand of Austria.
I leave this at 4 o'clock to-day, and shall reach
Pyrmont in three days, which I left only to get a
sight of the armies. From Pyrmont straight to
1 Archduke Charles — Third son of Leopold II. , Emperor of Austria. He defeated
Marshal Jourdan in several battles in 1796. He also defeated Moreau at Rastadt
in 1797, Mass^na in 1805, and the main French army, commanded by Napoleon in
person, at Aspern, May 21st and 22nd, 1809 (1771-1807).
2 Moreau — The greatest general of the French Republic, except Napoleon (1763-
1813).
FROM THE EARL OF BRISTOL. 1 29
Sans Souci, where I pass a month with my dear
Countess and her beautiful, elegant, decent, mild,
gentle Daughter. Would to God she were also
mine. I have so set my very heart and soul on this
union that no event whatever could give me equal
satisfaction, and when poor dear Frederick perceives
the absolute impracticability of his own project, [I
have no doubt] but he will, according to the tenor of
his last letter, readily adopt mine. Ce qui me mettra
a la joie de mon cceur, for a young woman more
calculated by nature, as well as education, to make a
virtuous man happy, I never yet saw, and I am certain
you would doat on her.
The Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
CASSEL, Sept. 30, 1796.
Dearest Elizabeth, — I am now returning to Pyr-
mont from my military expedition, for you know,
child, we have Church militant as well as Church
visible — Low Church and High Church. The affaire
at Alten Kircken1 near Dillembourg, which is near
Marpurg, was bien sanglante. The Ourang Outangs
or Tyger monkeys lost the few shirts and breeches
they had. That modern hero, Prince Frederick of
Orange (observe, my dear, all the great men of this
century are Fredericks2); this hero, who united the
1 Alten Kirchen In Prussia. The French who had defeated the Austrians here
in 1796 were themselves defeated, and their general Marceau killed on Sept. igth
following.
3 Fredericks The writer's own name, it should be remembered, was Frederick.
I
130 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
phlegm of Hannibal with the activity of Scipio, cut
them to pieces like a sailor's biscuit. They have
recrossed the Rhine, and evacuated Dusseldorf. On
the Upper Rhine the bravery of the Austrian soldiers
had taken Fort Kehl, which commands Strasburg;
and the stupidity, indiscipline, and rapacity of the
officers lost it. They were plundering the stores
when they ought to have been raising the Draw-
bridge— quelles betes — Landau is known to have only
600 men or boys in it. The Archduke marched
with 13,000 men to take it, and here ends my
Budget and letter, and so adieu, dearest Eliza.
To-morrow for Sans Souci and my dearest
Countess, de qui je soucie beaucoup in spite of my
Goliah = Rival, whom little David no longer fears.
From Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Frederick Foster.
Devonshire House, \ith Nov., 1796.
I have hitherto refrained from claiming the privi-
lege of an old acquaintance, and writing to you, not
only from the dreadful complaint I have had on one
eye, which has occasioned my being forbid writing,
but also, Dear Frederick, from thinking that your
time must be very much taken up. I can, however,
refrain no longer, and I write now to assure you of
the warm interest I take in everything that concerns
you, and my impatience to see you. Your apparte-
ments, and your brother's, are quite ready at Devon-
shire House. I hear you are to set out 20th. I do
FROM GEORGIAN A, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 131
most earnestly entreat you to let your journey suffer
no further delay. Your Dear Mother's heart is so
full of anxiety and expectation that any disappoint-
ment or delay in the expected moment would be
fatal to her health. You will find many friends
impatient to see you, and none more so than your
new Uncle, Lord Hawkesbury.1
I do not know if you remember me, but I assure
you that I never have forgot you since Bath. You
must excuse this bad writing, as I am still half blind,
but, truly and affectionately, yours,
G. Devonshire.
To Lady Elizabeth Foster ; from Georgiana, Duchess of
Devonshire, when she was apprehensive of
losing her eyesight — 1796.
The Life of the Roebuck was mine,
As I bounded o'er Valley and Lawn ;
I watched the gay Twilight decline,
And worshipped the day-breaking Dawn.
I regret not the freedom of will,
Or sigh, as uncertain I tread;
I am freer and happier still,
When by thee I am carefully led.
Ere my Sight I was doomed to resign,
My heart I surrendered to thee ;
Not a Thought or an Action was mine,
But I saw as thou badst me to see.
Thy watchful affection I wait,
And hang with Delight on Thy voice;
And Dependance is softened by fate,
Since Dependance on Thee is my Choice.
1 See note, p. 150.
132 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Lines by Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, on
Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Untutored in the Pencil's Art,
My Tints I gather from my Heart,
Where Truth and Love together trace
The various Beauties of thy face;
Thy Form acknowledged fair and fine,
Thy Smile, the antidote to Pain,
Thy Voice that never spoke in vain;
As diamonds on the Crystals trace
In Lines no Efforts can efface:
To please for ever is thy Lot —
Once seen, once loved, and ne'er forgot.
On Lady Elizabeth Foster, by Georgiana, Duchess of
Devonshire.
Portrait d' Elizabeth.
A la beaute enchanteresse,
Elle unit l'attrait de l'esprit ;
Par un regard elle interesse,
Par un sourire elle seduit.
A la finesse du langage,
Du gout parfait le rare don;
Elle reunit l'avantage
De la bonte et de la raison.
Mortels, craintifs fuyez ses charmes,
Fuyez son pouvoir enchanteur;
La cruelle impose les peines,
Au lieu de donner le bonheur.
G. Devonshire.
PASSAGE OF THE ST. GOTHARD. 1 33
To my Children,
By Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire.
THE PASSAGE OF THE MOUNTAIN OF SAINT
GOTHARD.
Ye plains where three-fold harvests press the ground,
Ye climes where genial gales incessant swell,
Where art and nature shed profusely round
Their rival wonders — Italy farewell!
Still may thy year in fullest splendor shine!
Its icy darts in vain may winter throw!
To thee, a parent, sister, I consign,
And wing'd with health, I woo thy gales to blow.
Yet, pleas'd Helvetia's rugged brows I see,
And thro' their craggy steeps delighted roam,
Pleas'd with a people, honest, brave and free,
Whilst every step conducts me nearer home.
I wander where Tesino madly flows,
From cliff to cliff in foaming eddies tost;
On the rude mountain's barren breast he rose,
In Po's broad wave now hurries to be lost.
His shores, neat huts and verdant pastures fill,
And hills where woods of pine the storm defy;
While, scorning vegetation, higher still,
Rise the bare rocks coeval with the sky.
Upon his banks a favor'd spot I found,
Where shade and beauty tempted to repose;
Within a grove, by mountains circled round,
By rocks o'erhung, my rustic seat I chose.
Advancing thence, by gentle pace and slow,
Unconscious of the way my footsteps prest;
134 THE TW0 DUCHESSES.
Sudden, supported by the hills below,
St. Gothard's summits rose above the rest.
Midst tow'ring cliffs and tracts of endless cold
Th' industrious path pervades the rugged stone,
And seems — Helvetia let thy toils be told —
A granite girdle o'er the mountain thrown.
No haunt of man the weary traveller greets,
No vegetation smiles upon the moor,
Save where the flow'ret breathes uncultur'd sweets,
Save where the patient monk receives the poor.
Yet let not those rude paths be coldly trac'd,
Let not these wilds with listless steps be trod,
Here fragrance scorns not to perfume the waste,
Here charity uplifts the mind to God.
His humble board the holy man prepares,
And simple food and wholesome lore bestows,
Extols the treasures that his mountain bears,
And paints the perils of impending snows.
For whilst bleak Winter numbs with chilling hand —
Where frequent crosses mark the travellers' fate —
In slow procession moves the merchant band,
And silent bends where tottering ruins wait.
Yet 'midst those ridges, 'midst that drifted snow,
Can nature deign her wonders to display;
Here Adularia shines with vivid glow,
And gems of chrystal sparkle to the day.
Here, too, the hoary mountain's brow to grace,
Five silver lakes, in tranquil state are seen;
While from their waters many a stream we trace,
That,, scap'd from bondage, rolls the rocks between.
Hence flows the Reuss to seek her wedded love,
And with the Rhine, Germanic climes explore;
PASSAGE OF THE ST. GOTHARD. 1 35
Her stream I mark'd, and saw her wildly move
Down the bleak mountain, thro' her craggy shore.
My weary footsteps hop'd for rest in vain,
For steep on steep in rude confusion rose;
At length I paus'd above a fertile plain
That promised shelter and foretold repose.
Fair runs the streamlet o'er the pasture green,
Its margin gay, with flocks and cattle spread;
Embowering trees the peaceful village screen,
And guard from snow each dwelling's jutting shed.
Sweet vale! whose bosom wastes and cliff surround,
Let me awhile thy friendly shelter share!
Emblem of life ! where some bright hours are found
Amidst the darkest, dreariest years of care.
Delv'd thro' the rock, the secret passage bends,
And beauteous horror strikes the dazzled sight;
Beneath the pendent bridge the stream descends
Calm — till it tumbles o'er the frowning height.
We view the fearful pass — we wend along
The path that marks the terrors of our way —
Midst beetling rocks, and hanging woods among
The torrent pours and breathes its glittering spray.
Weary at length, serener scenes we hail —
More cultur'd groves o'ershade the grassy meads,
The neat, tho' wooden hamlets deck the vale,
And Altorf's spires recall heroic deeds.
But tho' no more amidst those scenes I roam,
My fancy long each image shall retain —
The flock returning to its welcome home —
And the wild carol of the cowherd's strain.
Lucernia's lake its glassy surface shews,
Whilst nature's varied beauties deck its side ;
136 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Here rocks and woods its narrow waves enclose,
And there its spreading bosom opens wide.
And hail the chapel! hail the platform wild!
Where Tell directed the avenging dart
With well strung arm, that first preserv'd his child,
Then wing'd the arrow to the tyrant's heart.
Across the lake and deep embow'd in wood
Behold another hallow' d chapel stand,
Where three Swiss heroes lawless force withstood,
And stamp'd the freedom of their native land.
Their liberty requir'd no rites uncouth,
No blood demanded and no slaves enchain'd;
Her rule was gentle and her voice was truth,
By social order form'd, by laws restrain'd.
We quit the lake — and cultivation's toil,
With nature's charms combined, adorns the way,
And well earn'd wealth improves the ready soil,
And simple manners still maintain their sway.
Farewell, Helvetia! from whose lofty breast
Proud Alps arise, and copious rivers flow;
Where, source of streams, eternal glaciers rest,
And peaceful science gilds the plain below.
Oft on thy rocks the wondering eye shall gaze,
Thy vallies oft the raptur'd bosom seek —
There nature's hand her boldest work displays,
Here bliss domestic beams on every cheek.
Hope of my life! dear Children of my heart!
That anxious heart to each fond feeling true,
To you still pants each pleasure to fmpart,
And more — oh transport! — reach its Home and You.
FROM THE EARL OF BRISTOL. 1 37
The Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Dresden, December 6, 1796.
Did I not tell you, my dearest Elizabeth, that
they would bungle the affair with the King of
Prussia, and so it has happened? Mr. Elliot1 here
assured me he had seen all Mr. Hammond's papers,
and to himself it was clear as daylight that the King
and his ministers had acceded to all the preliminaries,
whilst Mr. Hammond, who has a much greater hesi-
tation in his brain than in his speech, was persuaded
the preliminaries have not been acceded.
The King himself, Bishopswerder,2and Moellendorf3
were all of Mr. Elliot's opinion, and the King him-
self told me in presence of my friend that he never
was so surprised as when he heard that Mr. Ham-
mond was decamped. I repeat it to you, let them
send Frederick to Frederick William. I will give
him la grace prevenante with my Countess, and I will
pledge myself he, with his talents, his manners, and
his activity, will render it la grace efficace. 'Tis a
shame, dearest Elizabeth, that Frederick, with such
endowments as his, both natural and acquired, should
sacrifice so all to indolence, prepossession, and mere
Egoism, whilst by entering into a career equally
suited to his birth, to his talents, and to his education,
he can render himself so extensively useful to the
''■Mr. Elliot— Hugh Elliot, a son of Sir Gilbert Elliot, and brother of the first
Earl of Minto.
2 Bishopswerder — Hans Rodolph B., a Prussian statesman, d. 1803.
3 Maellemiotf—'Riehaxii Joachim Henry, Count de M. , a Prussian general (1724-
1816).
138 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
noblest country that ever did or ever can exist, re-
spectable to his friends, and highly, permanently, and
solidly serviceable to himself. Add to all that it is
inconsistent with that noble character of indepen-
dence which I suppose him to possess, to throw
himself on the shoulders of a father already sinking
under the weight, whilst by a manly and vigorous
exertion of talents, for which he is responsible, he
might prove an honor to his country, a comfort to
his family, and a solace to himself.
Lord Elgin1 is tired to death of Berlin, and would
be so of any other station where he could not exer-
cise his fox-hunting spirit, but Ratisbon was the
station I wished your brother to accept, at this
hour the very best diplomatick school in Europe,
where the interests of all the empire are daily dis-
cussed, where he might learn his lesson in the best
company. Mr. Elliot, who began with those rudi-
ments, assured me yesterday it was to that school he
owed all the diplomatick knowledge he possessed,
and regretted infinitely with me that Frederick had
Declined what he should have Conjugated. He
empowered me at the same time to say that if
Frederick could procure him any desirable exchange,
he would resign Dresden to him. At all events, be
sure your brother is not aware of the false step he is
taking by declining the diplomatick line; according
to all experience he cannot miss with his Birth, his
Talents, his Connexions, and his assiduity becoming
Secretary of State in ten or twelve years. Either he
'■Lord Elgin— -The seventh Earl of Elgin, who collected the splendid Grecian
sculptures known as the "Elgin marbles" in the British Museum (1766-1841).
FROM THE EARL OF BRISTOL. 1 39
is, or he is not, calculated for public speaking; if he
is, ministry will be as glad as him to give him a
Semestre for the Parliament month (?) to avail them-
selves of him; if he is not, he cannot be better em-
employed than at the Desk, where he has already
given proofs of his prowess and powers in handling
Mr. Thomas Paine1 — and so adieu, sweet Elizabeth.
I have done my duty; let Frederick now do his.
Pour moi j'irai mon train, and if I cannot be the
Caesar nor the Cicero,2 I will be a less splendid but
a more usefull Cityzen, the Lucullus3 of my time,
the Midwife of Talents, Industry, and hidden virtues.
Sweet Elizabeth, adieu.
A luminous idea has just struck my mind which I
only propose to you, and of which you may dispose
as you please; if your eldest son4 was sent abroad
whilst I remain so he might live with me, and Mr.
Lovel for one or two hundred a year might be his
mentor — no one better for it, either for the morals
or intellect of your son. I do but propose; do you
dispose.
The Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry
To Lady Elisabeth Foster.
Dresden, December 28, 1796.
I do not expect peace to be signed by that blun-
dering attorney, Lord Malmesbury,5 too cunning to
1 Thomas Paine — The well-known anti-Christian writer, author of The Rights of
Man, The Age of Reason, &c. (1737-1809). 2 Cicero— (106 B.C.-43 B.C.).
3 Lucullus— A wealthy Roman general, a patron of literature and art, and friend
of Cicero (115 B.C.-49 B.C.).
*your eldest son— Frederick Th . Foster, now about nineteen years old (1777-1853).
5 Lord Malmesbury— James Harris, the first Earl of Malmesbury, diplomatist
(1746-1820).
140 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
deceive and too crafty to be trusted, but in case I
should be disappointed and the French tygers sub-
mit to our terms, I think it is worth Frederick's
while in time to speak for the embassy to the Hague,
which is so near England, he is almost at home, and
may ever be so in 24 hours; but here are my
politicks, and if ever you canvass with the Duke and
Duchess or other Plenipo, pray start the question
and let me know the result. My idea is to annihi-
late Holland as a blackguard, mean, low, shabby,
rival power, and sink her, as she was formerly, into
the 17 provinces of Brabant, &c, &c, then give
them altogether to Bavaria, and the Palatinate to
the old Elector, an ignorant enthusiast, and a Papist
whose nonsense, as Bishop Burnet1 says, suits their
nonsense. Brabant will at length have a Resident
Sovereign. The Palatinate east of the Rhine I
would give to a young branch of our Royal family
as being Protestant; but west of the Rhine, and
including all the iniquitous, profligate, debauched
bishopricks and their infamous chapters, I would cede
to the Republick on condition, and for this condition
I would spend the last drop of blood and money,
that they cede all the Provinces south of the Loire
to Louis 18. Here is France as a maritime and
commercial nation sunk for ever; the two govern-
ments eternally at war together, and doing the busi-
ness for England; but if France Is to remain entire —
oh! judge of her future energy by her past, and
dread the fatal moment when that restless people,
1 Biskap Burnet— Gilbert B. , author of History of the Reformation and History
of His Own Times (1643-1715).
FROM THE EARL OF BRISTOL. 141
having recruited her strength, pour all upon Eng-
land: at all events, dear Elizabeth, I hope your
torpid friends, for such I must call them, will not
forget to secularize the two very lucrative but tyran-
nical bishopricks of Paderborn and Hildesheim in
favour of two younger sons of our Royal family.
The Bishops expect it, the people pray for it, and all
Westphalia applaud it. Perhaps that Log, Lord
Grenville,1 does not know that they exist nor has
ever heard of the secularization of the opulent
bishoprick of Magdeburg in favour of the house of
Brandenburg2 after the 30 years [war], for, by all
accounts from my diplomatick friends, a more ignorant
blockhead does not exist; but, dearest Elizabeth, in
case these torpid gentlemen assume the courage to
secularize Hildesheim and Paderborn, let them not
over look the small, low-lived, ignorant convent of
English Benedictines at Lambsheim(?) worth ^3000 a
year in the heart of that bishoprick, and now possessed
by a whole sty of groveling, grunting, Epicurean
hogs drawn out of the counties of Lancashire, West-
moreland, and West Riding of York. If your
friends have the courage to look at such an enter-
prize you may give them a memorandum for their
consideration. In the bishoprick of Paderborn there
is another convent of Dominicans which I have also
visited, and may be worth ,£2500 a year, and is in
the centre of the bishoprick. The act of seculariza-
tion depends entirely on the Emperor, who can
refuse England nothing. The Chancellor of Hanover
1 Lord Grenville — William Wyndham G. , created Baron G. in 1790, afterwards
Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister in 1806 in succession to Pitt (1759-1834).
ihouse of Brandenburg — The royal family of Prussia.
142 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
assured me that, to his knowledge, that corrupt,
abandoned scoundrel, Lord Bute,1 had absolutely the
offer of a secularization in 1 762, but refused it. Tis
supposed he pocketed ,£20,000 for this infamous
refusal, and the younger sons in consequence remain
a burthen on England. Oh! if your brother were
now Minister at Berlin what a blow he might strike!
since I know for certain and past a doubt that my
landlord of Sans Souci wishes nothing so much as to
join in crushing the tigres-singes. What a blunder
the sending of Hammond, whom nobody could
understand, and who did not understand neither
himself or others, and as to the present
[Rest of this letter missing.]
The Countess of Bristol
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
On both my children's arrival in England, to Lady E. Foster.
Wimbledon, Monday, 1796.
How can I express to you, my dear Elizabeth,
the feeling I have for you at this moment and the
share I take in your happiness. In every respect
your letter gives me great satisfaction. You happy
will be a novelty indeed, but you have been patient
under your sufferings as, a wife, you have done your
utmost to perform your duty as a mother, and I
doubt not but that Providence has in store a reward
for you, more especially as you think yourself unde-
1 Lord Bute — John Stuart, third Earl of Bute, best known as being a most un-
popular prime minister in the beginning of the reign of George III. (1713-1792).
FROM THE EARL OF BRISTOL. 143
serving of it, for an humble confidence in God is
acceptable to Him.
God reads the language of a silent tear
And sighs are incense from a heart sincere.
I had just written you a note to beg you would
moderate your agitation, and I still hope you will
try to do it, but to-morrow is so near, it will be
difficult. We had been a little distressed lest you
should see that an Irish packet had been lost, and
not observe that it was going from England; how-
ever, I thought it best not to mention it, and here
they are safe. I thank you, my dear Elizabeth, for
sending the earliest notice, and congratulate you
most warmly on it. Pray assure them of my best
affection, and believe that I shall be most sincerely
glad to receive you and them together on Thursday
if that suits, but if the House of Commons and
Louisa's health should be likely to disturb your
Wednesday's party, let me know it, and bring them
here, if you like it better, on that day. Adieu, most
affect.
The Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
PLOUEN ce 12 Jan. 1797.
I send you, my dearest Elizabeth, as to one of
the few persons capable of relishing a great idea
worthy of either Cromwell1 or Chatham, but perhaps
unintelligible to your dull, formal, pedantick, un-
1 Cromwell— Olivet C. (1599-1658).
144 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
comprehending, and incomprehensible Minister of
Foreign affairs, to which department he is as inade-
quate as to the Home, witness the insults offered to
the British Lion by the Cubs of Genoa, or the
Foxes of Tuscany. I send you, I say, a copy of
my letter to Frederick William, which has been
infinitely better understood and far more relished by
him than by that impenetrable and unpenetrating
blockhead Lord Grenville.
Chere amie, je te confie par une main tres sure
un projet qui m'est d'autant plus cher que je me
flatte qu'il s'agit des veritables inter^ts d'un des plus
vertueux Souverains de' Europe entiere, et sans
contredit des inter£ts de celui a qui par gout, comme
par reconnaissance je suis le plus attache.
C'est beaucoup dire pour un Anglais et, pour un
Anglais aussi fier que moi.
II s'agit done chere amie de mettre la France hors
de combat: cette Nation inquiete et inquietante sera
tranquille pour au moins un siecle.
II s'agit de la partager en deux — France Repub-
licaine et France Monarchique, l'une au nord de la
Loire, l'autre au midi.
La Nature s'y pr£te et la Politique s'y prete, car au
sud de La Loire il n'y a pas Fortresse quelconque
si vous en exceptez La Rochelle — et Antibes et
Toulon, toutes les deux degarnies de leur artillerie
pour subvenir au siege de Mantoue.
Ajoutez que la proportion des Aristocrats a toujours
ete et subsiste toujours d'un superiority enorme a la
proportion Democratique.
FROM THE EARL OF BRISTOL. I45
La France dans ce moment est terrassee; elle est
aux abois et a peine peut-elle se soutenir.
Pour effectuer ce projet de partition il y'a deux
partis a prendre.
Ou de s'allier avec le nouvel Empereur de Russie
et de concert avec lui, et avec lui seul sur un
principe purement Monarchique, conduire le Roi
Louis 18, avec la petite, mais brave et loyale
armee de Conde travers la Suisse et le Piemont
sans facon quelconque et le proclamer Roy de la
France meridionale tout en entrant dans la Pro-
vence.
Ou bien de s'allier avec l'Angleterre qui fera la
moitie des frais, et aideroit avec sa flotte pour seconder
le m£me systeme.
Mais je crains un Cabinet aussi liche, aussi equi-
voque, aussi indecis que celui de Londres, et je pre-
fererois toujours un Cabinet dont l'alliance seroit
sympatetique et oil les inter£ts de la Monarchic serait
commun aux deux Monarques.
Alors je pretens que d'apres les connaissances
que 25 ans de voyages m'ont donne, les frais de la
guerre doivent etre annuellement aux depens de la
France Meridionale.
Dans les annees 1766 et 1767 j'assistais a la tenue
des Etats de Languedoc.
Cette Province accorda au Roi chaque annee la
somme de .£300,000 livres Sterlines.
Les Provinces de Guienne et de Gascogne avec
la ville de Bordeaux payerent en impots la valeur de
.£600,000 livres sterlines.
Les Etats de Dauphine et de Provence avec la
146 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
ville de Marseilles accordaient au Roi la somme de
,£500,000 livres sterlines — disons done.
Languedock, .... ^500,000
Guienne, &c, .... ^600,000
Dauphind, &c, . . . ^500,000
^1,600,000
Doublons cette somme par le droit de guerre nous
aurons la somme complette £3,200,000 sterlines. Je
me flatte qu'avec les contributions ordinaires cela
suffirait pour entretenir les deux armees.
II s'agit a present du Bien qui resulterait a votre
ami de ce projet et du Mai qui doit resulter de sa
negligence.
Par la division de la France en Republicaine et en
Monarchique elle devient Puissance tres secondaire,
par consequent hors de combat — encore plus si le
caractere inquiet de la Nation faisait remuer la
Republique. Voila. le Monarque tout de suite a son
dos pour revendiquer ses anciens droits, et lui arracher
quelque province — en tout cas son aide comme Puis-
sance secondaire serait tres mince, tres Equivoque et
peu a craindre.
Mais — laisser echapper ce moment et que la Re-
publique reste — une et indivisible — quel en est le
triste et fatal resultat?
La France Republique devient mille fois plus
energique, plus terrible, plus dangereuse et plus
seduisante durant la paix que durant la guerre.
Lescommis voyageurs, les negotians, les emissaires,
les apdtres de la liberte repandront a. droit et a
gauche ces principes de la liberte qui etouffent toute
FROM THE EARL OF BRISTOL. 147
liberie et tres-surement bouleverseront les Mon-
archies actuelles et les Gouvernmens Monarchiques.
Et dites moi quel sera 1'antidote a ce poison.
Les Pays-Bas seront-ils cedes a la Republique ou
non? S'ils sont cedes quel colosse de Puissance et
ou est done Wesel? Juliers? Cleves?
En cas qu'ils ne sont pas cedes trois ans apres la
paix voila le duplicat du traite de ce Fanfaron
Kaunitz.
Cedez-moi les Pays-Bas dira la Republique qui
vous chicanent tant, vous insultent tant, et fonciere-
ment vous rendent si peu, et je verse tous mes forces
pour vous donner un equivalent dans la Silesie, la
Pologne, &c.
Mais on me repliquera — La Russie ne le permette
pas — La Russie l'a deja permis une fois; done la
Russie le peut encore permettre. II ne lui faut qu'un
Ministre corrompu — dans une Nation la plus cor-
rompue de toute 1' Europe — ou bien accorder a la
Russie pour sa neutrality Dantzig, &c, et qui me
repondra de son amitie fidele?
Vaut il la peine de risquer les evenements de la
guerre de sept ans ? Ne vaut-il pas mieux secouer ses
plumes, aiguiser son bee, et deployer ses griffes, et
fondre une fois pour tout sur cet ennemi abattu —
terrasse mais toujours inquiet perfide et ruse, et lui
oter tout pouvoir de se relever — Divide et impera.
Dearest Elizabeth, — My friend writes me it has
made the deepest impression, and raised the most
vigorous resolutions, but alas I know him. One
hour in the Lap of his Danseuse, and he lies there the
I48 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
shadow of a king — yet at such a moment if your
brother, with all his energy and all his insinuation,
was on the spot to keep this momentary energy alive
to secure to his interests she who now opposes hers,
to back all my friend's exertions, — to warm this
lump of inert matter and breathe into it a per-
manent fire with 233,000 men at his back — at this
critical decisive moment what might not this Colossus
effect, and what honor to himself, and what permanent,
extensive, substantial benefit to his country might
not Frederick achieve : but I am talking to the Deaf.
Dearest Elizabeth, make your friends speak out, if
possible, to the purport of this memorial — read well
yourself, read with Frederick — state the objections —
at Dresden at Berlin the idea has more than pleased:
perhaps the magnitude of the object deters. It would
not have deterred Lord Chatham, but alas he did
bestride this narrow world like a stage Colossus,
and these petty men do but Peep between his legs.
Tlie Countess of Bristol
To Frederick Foster.
Wimbledon, Oct. 19, 1797.
My dear Frederick, — I imagine this will find you
at Oxford; and though I am not a very good corre-
spondent when you are in the midst of your friends, I
hasten to you in your Solitude that you may see that
you and your Interests are ever present to my mind.
I beg, therefore, that you will tell me how you like
your new situation, as soon as you can form any
FROM THE COUNTESS OF BRISTOL. 149
judgement of it, and whether you have any acquaint-
ance there. I wish I could have given you an intro-
duction to anybody likely to prove a Companion and
friend to you, for that is what you want, and, indeed,
what is necessary to everybody for their comfort and
happiness. You will remember one Person whom I
cautioned you not to receive upon a footing of
Intimacy, or easily to believe what He may tell you
either of himself or other People. At the same time
I hope you will keep upon civil terms with him, for I
dare say he will be full of profession; but you must
learn early to keep certain Characters at a distance,
whilst I hope you will take Polonius's advice and
grapple those friends thou hast to thy Soul with hooks
of Steel. Tell me how you like your rooms, and
your reception. I shall really feel very anxious till
you have got over the first fortnight, and then I
hope you will begin to distinguish some of your
Companions, and to enjoy some Society.
I rejoice with you, my dear Frederick, on our late
glorious Victory over the Dutch1 Fleet, which has
been very compleat, and conducted with as much
skill and gallantry as possible. The English have
now defeated the three Fleets of the Allies separately,
and, I believe, indisposed them very much to engage
further with us: this is supposed to be the most
material defeat of the three, and it will, I hope, be
the preservation of your Country.
I conclude you passed your time very pleasantly at
Chatsworth, and that you was struck with the Place,
as it was probably the finest you had ever seen. I
1 glorious Victory over the Dutch— PA. Camperdown, Oct. 11, 1797.
, ,"'-/■'-' //'/, -f,//r t',s/,'/ A't/ ■ .■ fitfr/J/iT Pfs/rfi'-t . ■/,*/•'/ ' //, S/f .•.■■.,(;-. •/ /
150 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
don't know whether you love Country Sports, but I
suppose you had them in perfection. Lady Hervey,
Lady Erne, and their Daughters are still at Tun-
bridge. Your Uncle is, I believe, at Weymouth, but
he has gone by the Coast, and stopped at different
places for bathing. I am afraid he will return to
Town with great regret for the meeting of Parlia-
ment. Lord and Lady Hawkesbury1 mean to be
there about the 28, and are to leave Dunleer on Mon-
day. Adieu ! dear Frederick : as I have been very
ill, writing fatigues me, so I will only add that I am
ever your affectionate G. Mother.
I am so glad that your mother appears to be well,
and Augustus quite happy with his Colours. I hear
he has at last the approbation of his guardians.
The Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
1797.
Sans Souci and Sans Souci for ever, my dearest
Elizabeth! At last, on the 30th of October — Sunday,
noon — here I am truely worthy of this Philosophic
Mansion, without care, and almost without thought,
so consummately am I Germanized.
Nothing, no, nothing, not even the plains of Thet-
1 Lord Hawkesbury — Robert Banks Jenkinson, son of the first Earl of Liverpool,
whom he succeeded as second Earl. He was Prime Minister from 1812 to 1827.
He had become (in 1795) the husband of Lady Louisa Hervey, youngest daughter
of the Bishop of Derry, and aunt of the young man to whom this letter was written
(1770-1828).
FROM THE EARL OF BRISTOL. 151
ford or of Brandon can equal the aridness of this
situation, nor even the Terrace of Weybridge surpass
the beauty and luxuriancy of the prospect. Hesperian
gardens surround the house: grapes worthy our best
hothouses, pine apples as plenty as crabs in Devon-
shire or apples in Herefordshire; we can eat 1200 in
a year, and every week at Pyrmont we received a
dozen or more. Then for game, the Basse-cour at
Chatsworth does not supply more fowl, ducks, geese,
and capon than we have — partridges, grouse, wood-
cock, &c; but, alas! to-morrow we enter the eve of
November, and I have those accumulated Purgatories
of the Alps to pass before I can enter that earthly
paradise, Naples. So to-morrow we decamp, bag
and baggage, and no bad baggage is mine : geese,
turkies, ducks, shoulders and legs of mutton alter-
nately, preceded by two graduate cooks, masters of
arts, who arrive just one hour before us — quanto
basta, to find our dinner as ready as our appetites.
Lo, here is our diary: At seven help Hyperion to his
horse, and then mount our own; trot away 15 or 18
miles sans y penser; find excellent coffee, and better
cream, and two eggs ready for a rapacious stomach,
with all its "sue gastric" afloat, ready to consume
whatever it receives. . . . After two hours' rest,
but not of our tongues, for we babble like parrots or
starlings, though our converse be not quite sterling;
on horseback anew, and even so we dispatch 15 or
18 miles more through this ocean of sand, with now
and then a village to make the remaining solitude
more sensible; at close of day we close our labors,
and then here is our recompense:
152 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Soupe.
Bouilli of duck or goose.
Mutton shoulder or leg.
and a large bowl of punch, in which we bury all
fatigue, and at length all thought, and then, as the
clock strikes eight, enter the warming pan, et tout
est dit, and all night sleep in Elysium without one
single ghost in our dreams. And so, sweet Eliza-
beth, not to put you to sleep, I close my narrative:
to-morrow for Berlin, next day for Werlitz, next
Dessau, Leipzig, and Dresden, &c, &c. Yours affec-
tionately, du fond de mon profond cceur. g
The Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
March 20, 1798.
Dearest Elizabeth, — Now or never perhaps may
you most essentially serve me. All my effects at
Rome are under sequestration to the amount of
,£20,000 at the very least. Could Mr. Pitt be
induced to send a Minister to congratulate the
Roman people on their emancipation, and appoint
me to the Embassy, he would do himself and me
a most essential service: me, because I should save
all that immense, valuable, and beautiful property of
large mosaick pavement, sumptuous chimney pieces
for my new house, and pictures, statues, busts, and
marbles without end, first-rate Titians and Raphaels,
dear Guidos,1 and three old Carraccis2 — gran Dio! che
1 Guido — (1575-1642). 3 Carracci — (1555-1619).
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 1 53
tesoro; and himself, because such an embassy would
wrench the Republick off the hands of their tyrant's
dispoiler and merciless taskmaster, restore us the
ports of Ancona and Civita Vecchia for our manu-
factures and codfish, and lay the foundation of a
treaty of commerce, the most beneficial perhaps of
any in Europe.
Now, if either your friend, Lord Spencer, or, above
all, your greater friend, the Duke of Devonshire, or
the Duchess, would effectually join in this lottery,
you see, dearest Elizabeth, I should literally get the
^"20,000 prize.
Dear girl, do what you can for me. As to the
Duke of Richmond, I do not suppose he has now
any interest, else he could refuse you nothing.
I am on thorns till I hear from you. A ransom
was offered by General Berthier,1 but that is now
suspended.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster?
December 4, 1798.
You are eighteen this day, my own dear Augustus
— many many happy years may you see, and may
those encreasing years ripen every virtue in your
breast and bring them to their full maturity. Let
1 General Berthier— One. of Napoleon's marshals. He held the first place in the
confidence of Napoleon (1753-1815).
2 Augustus Foster— Second son of John Thomas Foster, M.P., was Charge'
d'affaires at Stockholm, 1S08-1811; British Minister at Washington, 1811-1812; at
Copenhagen, 1814-1824; and at Turin, 1824-1840 (1780-1848).
. i- ■ . ,- - ,■ ■
1 54 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
not this anniversary of your birth, my dearest boy,
pass without forming new resolutions for the year to
come. Examine your own character; see what you
think you find there to alter or amend. You are
young enough to counteract any wrong tendency,
yet old enough to be soon in danger from the influ-
ence of habits and custom; indulge in a fault to-day
it will be harder to resist it to-morrow; the fault
which you acknowledged to me, that of too easily
giving way, would insensibly make you act not only
according to the errors of your own judgment but
those of others; be on your guard against this,
dearest Augustus, yet the contrary extreme, an un-
yielding disposition, is still less amiable. Be firm,
therefore, only when the pure dictates of your heart
tell you that you are wrong, and if ever wrong, fear
not to acknowledge it; above all, fear it not to me;
some means of reparation a friend may generally
point out, but where can you find a friend so true
and so affectionate as your mother. All the great
fundamental qualities of your character I trust are
right. I have never known you fail in them; strict
inviolable truth, a religious observance of one's pro-
mise, a sacred observance of another's secret, and
prudence for one's own; as your situation and con-
nections in life enlarge duties increase also, and
amongst the foremost I hope you will ever feel the
purest [torn out] women, and never risk their happi-
ness to gratify your vanity or even passions. I was
pleased to hear W. Lamb1 say with earnestness that
1 W. Lamb — William Lamb, afterwards Viscount Melbourne, and Prime Minister,
with exception of a short interval, from 1834-1841 (1779-1848).
LINES ON THE BATTLE OF ABOUKIR. 155
if he felt a growing passion for his friend's wife he
would fly to the further end of the earth to resist the
danger. Dear, dear Augustus, I fear I have bored
you, but my heart is anxiously watchful over you,
and this day encreased the feeling. May Heaven
ever guide, bless, and direct you.
LINES ON THE BATTLE OF ABOUKIR.
By GEORGIANA, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE (1799).
" Hush! forbear to tell the Story
Full of Horror, Full of Fear.
Talk not to a wretch of Glory,
Or of Hated Aboukir.
Whilst I shrink from every morrow,
Whilst kind death alone I claim,
Conquest cannot cure my sorrow,
Nor Despair be soothed by Fame.
I am wretched, past retrieving;
He is lost and I'm undone;
All my life will pass in grieving
For the battle we have won.
Cease those cruel exultations,
Cease this mockery and boast;
What's to me the fate of nations,
When to me my Love is lost."
Whilst poor Laura's frenzied ditty
Mingled with the sounds of glee,
Many a heart, subdued to Pity,
Altered said, I pity thee.
156 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Gallant was thy Lover's story,
Bravely did he Life resign.
Cheer thee, maid, he died for glory,
But his latest sigh was thine.
Lady Elisabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, February 2, 1799.
. . . Mr. Pitt's admirable speech, though firm,
is not so strong an appeal to the good sense of the
Irish, and so far from any violence that no violent
measures need be apprehended; and it makes me
regret the more that a question of such importance
to the welfare of a whole country should have been,
by the efforts of party, refused a fair hearing. I
think your reasoning upon it very just. I do not
find that Lord Hawkesbury acknowledges Lord
Castlereagh1 to be in any scrape, so I hope the fears
I heard expressed were exaggerated; the violence
in the House was very great. . . .
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Weimar, March 19, 1799.
. . . I introduced myself to Kotzebue2 at our
ball, for he was invited with his wife there. I talked
a good deal to him since about his plays; he says he
likes always the last written of them the best. He
1Lord Castlereagh — (1769-1822).
5 Kotzebue— August K., well known as a prolific German dramatist (1761-1819).
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 1 57
has entered into an engagement with Harris of
Covent Garden. Harrison had been desired by
Sheridan to treat with him, but Kotzebue told me
that he had heard that Sheridan was not remarkably
strict in paying his debts, and he thought it better
receiving half sure from Harris than double from
Sheridan. I promised to send him Pizarro in a day
or two, for he has not seen it yet. It is droll that
Rolla has had very bad success in Germany.
. . . Kotzebue, when he heard that Miss E.
Gore was going to get the portrait of him copied in
order to give me for you, proposed sitting himself
again for another portrait, as he was discontented
with the first.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Colchester, August 7, 1799.
We left Ickworth yesterday a little after twelve
and arrived about six; we travelled rather with heavy
hearts, for there had been unpleasant letters from my
father, and my dear mother was low and unwell.
I cannot tell you at present what they were, but
most certainly he is a cruel man. . . . General
Hervey and Lady Erne are there, and I hope the
Hawkesburys are going next week. My mother
has need of all the comfort which her children can
give her, and it is the most sacred duty we can
fulfill. . . • Dear Lord Howe1 is dead. There
1 Lord Howe— (1725-1799).
158 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
is a brave man lost to his country: it is at a mo-
mentous time too. The combined fleets are out 40
strong and sailing from Cadiz north-west; supposed,
' therefore, for Ireland. What our Channel fleet is I
don't know, but Lord Keith, it is said, was not far
behind; the extraordinary thing is how they can
have missed them. The secret expedition is near
its embarkation. A camp of 18,000 men is now on
Barham downs.
Thursday, %th.
Lord Hawkesbury, whom we met going to town
the day we came here, is now returned. He brings
us very particular news. It was supposed that the
French meant to get into Brest harbour with the
Spanish fleet, to be prepared for an attack on Ire-
land, but we shall soon have a fleet of full thirty sail
of the line in the channel. Lord Keith1 is trying to
get up to him. Lord Chatham is going with this
expedition, some are already embarked, and the
others are to go as soon as possible, but Lord H.
swears that nobody knows where it is going except
the directors of it; you will soon know of its disem-
barkation. . . Sheridan's Pizarro I think you
must like; 17,000 copies have been sold. Sheridan
is now adapting the Virgin of the Sun for the stage.
It seems again doubtful whether the Duke of York
goes with this secret expedition. Lady Anne Fitz-
roy is to be married this day to Cullen Smith, so
they are both of them consoled for their faithless
former loves.
1 Lord Keith — (1746-1823).
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 159
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Weimar, Nov. 22, 1799.
. . . I don't know if I may risk telling you as
news that Buonaparte1 has overthrown the whole of
the French Constitution. His life was attempted in
the Council of 500 at St. Cloud, where he and the
Antients have assembled them, by the deputy Arena,2
who threw himself upon Buonaparte with a dagger
in his hand, and, if it was not for a grenadier officer,
who received the blows in his coat, would have killed
him. He, Sieyes, and Roger Ducos3 form the new
triumvirate — but it is foolish telling you all this, for
you must have it already in your papers. B. is an
extraordinary man indeed; he will fill up many pages
in history. What if he should act the part of Crom-
well or Julius Caesar?4 but I'm afraid he wants the
talents. Mounier don't know what to think of it.
He supposes that there may be perhaps a Constitu-
tion like that of America. . . .
1 Buonaparte — (1769-1821).
lArina — Barthelemi A., a native of Corsica, was accused with his brother Joseph
of conspiracy, and of attempting to stab Napoleon on the 18th Brumaire while
dissolving the council of 500 of which B. A. was a member ; but he always denied
the charge and died in obscurity, though his brother Joseph was executed.
3 He, Sieyes, and Roger Ducos — Members of the consulate, Napoleon being First
Consul. 4 Julius Caesar — (100 B.C.-44 B.C.).
l6o THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Dec. 6, 1799.
. . . I envy you having got acquainted with
Kotzebue. I should have liked to have told him
that if fame came into his calculation that he had
better have received half from Sheridan than any
sum from Covent Garden. Pray tell me what he
says to Sheridan's Pizarro. I suppose you have
frequently met at Weimar. I do wonder that Rolla
should not have succeeded in Germany. Don't fail
to bring his picture. . . .
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Weimar, Dec. 14, 1799.
I wonder you have not in any of your letters
mentioned anything about Bonaparte's return, and
the changes in France. I should have thought you
would all have been enthusiastic about him in
England, Lady Anne Hatton particularly, who was
so dazzled with him. Notwithstanding what you
say about the Expedition,1 and the courage of the
troops, I can't help thinking that from what we hear
on this side, the Expedition was but badly conducted,
and that they might have made a better and more
1 the Expedition — The expedition to Holland under the Duke of York, which
was a complete failure.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. l6l
creditable retreat. You ask me Mounier's opinion
about the late Revolution. He liked it at first,
because it was at least a change, and that Sieves
and Bonaparte seemed more moderate and cleverer
men than the others; but, since the violent trans-
portation of so many Jacobins, without form or
process, into Guiana, he thinks there's as little liberty
as ever. ... I sent Pizarro the other day to
Kotzebue, for he had not yet read it. It was an
odd idea of Sheridan's, but I am told that he got
Pizarro translated into German, and sent it as a
present to Kotzebue.
There are three new tragedies coming out here
this winter: Mary Queen of Scots by Kotzebue,
Gustavus Vasa by Schiller,1 and a translation of
Mahomet by Goethe.2 . . .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Dec. 27, 1799.
I suppose, dearest Augustus, that you are now at
Minden. I do not wonder that you went, for the
review of such an army must be a fine sight. The
eagerness for news increases in proportion to the
importance of the crisis, and, particularly, every
body here is anxious for news of the fleets. Lord
St. Vincent3 has with him probably at this moment
1 Schiller— (tjSg-iSos). ' £<««*-( 1749-1832).
3 Lord Si. Vincent— {1732-1823).
1 62 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
50 sail of the line. How mean and pitiful of the
French the sending the unfortunate Pope1 to an
hospital in France at 80, not to allow him to end
his days in a convent in his own country; but
the French do not know the greatness of treating
humanely a fallen foe. Mr. Henry Foster and his
adopted daughter went with me to the opera.
Pizarro the 21st night has been as full nearly as the
first. Pray send me any anecdotes you can pick up
about Kotzebue. There is no other subject scarcely
of conversation, by which you will understand that
there are various opinions on the subject. The
violent Ministerialists are angry that Sheridan should
have such applause; the violent oppositionists are as
angry at the loyalty of the Play; and the rigid and
censorious are suspicious of such pure morality and
mild religion from the pen of a person esteemed
profligate. To bring up the rear, authors are jealous
of his success, and cry out it is Kotzebue and not
Sheridan's merit: so Sheridan says — I am but a
translator: but then, such a translation! As soon as
it comes out I will send it to you. William Lamb
foolishly distrusts it — foolishly, because it is attributed
to pique at the failure of the Epilogue; the poetry of
this was pretty, but it wanted strength. I dined
yesterday at Richmond House with the Melbournes,2
and there it had a grand discussion.
. . . A very odd story has just come out.
1 the unfortunate Pope — Pope Pius VI. , who was taken prisoner by the French
general Berthier, and carried away from Rome to Valence, in France, where he died
(1717-1799).
2 the Melbournes— -Viscount and Lady Melbourne, parents of William Lamb,
who became afterwards prime minister.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 163
Lady Holland1 yesterday restored to Sir G. Webster
a child whom she had always told him was dead: it
is a little girl, whom she lay in of in Italy, and when
she was coming home, conscious that she was to be
parted from Sir Godfrey, and being doatingly fond
of this child, she contrived to have it pass for dead,
and had it brought to England under a feigned
name, and has constantly seen it; but at last, con-
vinced she was acting in a most unjustifiable manner
both to Sir Godfrey and the child, she owned the
whole thing, and the child, now six years old, is
restored to its father, who received it with transport;
but did you ever hear of so odd a thing? . . .
21st.
You will be surprized to hear that I, who never go
to balls or assemblies, went to the masquerade. Lady
Bessborough2 said she would not unless I did, and
Lady Anne would not go with her. We let every-
body go, and then disguised ourselves very well
indeed, and went half an hour after them. I was not
found out the whole night. When Lady B. was
discovered, they took me for Lady Anne, and it was
good fun to hear Lord Morpeth3 say low to Lady
Bessborough, "She can't disguise herself; her way of
fanning herself betrays her". I assure you I did not
know I was so good a mimick, and Cullen Smith
said, "There is Lady Anne taking off Lady Elizabeth".
1 Lady Holland— Elizabeth Vassall, daughter of Richard Vassall of Jamaica, and
wife of Sir Godfrey Webster, after her divorce from whom she married secondly
Henry Richard Fox, Baron Holland. Holland House was for a very lengthened
period a hospitable resort for the distinguished in literature and politics (1770-1845).
2 Lady Bessborough— -Henrietta Frances, daughter of John, first Earl Spencer,
d !82i. 3 Lord Morpeth— Afterwards Earl of Carlisle (1802-1864).
1 64 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
We attacked the Duchess,1 and she did not know us
for a long time. The masquerade was a good one,
but the house was not quite lighted enough. , . .
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
[Fragment of a letter.]
. . . He2 was dressed in a blue coat faced with
white, two gold epaulets, white waistcoat, &c, and
English riding boots, no ornament in his hat; he is
a very dirty [illegible] and his hair looks as if it never
was combed. When the officers had withdrawn,
Buonaparte retired to put on his Consular dress,
scarlet with rich gold embroidery, and soon after
we were all of us, with the different Ambassadors,
ushered into the Salle des Ambassadeurs, where we
found Buonaparte and his two inferior Consuls.3 I
was presented one of the first after Lord Cowper,
but it was done in such a hurried manner by Mr.
Jackson, who generally answered the questions made
by Buonaparte himself, that we had none of us,
except Mr. Blayden, an author, the honor of a con-
1 the Duchess — Of Devonshire. 2 He — Bonaparte.
3 his two inferior Consuls — When the consulate of three members was first con-
stituted as the supreme power in France, on the i8th Brumaire (November 9th),
1799, it consisted of the Abbe1 Sieves, Bonaparte, and Roger Ducos, with equal
authority. Sieves resigned within a month, and on Dec. 13th, 1799, Bonaparte,
Cambaceres, and Lebrun were elected first, second, and third consuls respectively,
each being elected for ten years, and being re-eligible. In May, 1802, Bonaparte
was re-elected for ten additional years, and in August of the same year he was made
consul for life by 3,568,885 out of a possible total of 3,577,259 votes. Finally, on
May i8tb, 1804, he was made Emperor.
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 165
versation. To him he spoke a good deal about Sir
Joseph Banks,1 who, he said, was much esteemed in
this country. I ought to give you a description of
his person, but I don't know anybody he resembles
unless it is to my uncle a little, I think. He is under
the middle size, has light gray eyes, brown hair
and light-coloured eyebrows, sallow complexion and
nearly a straight nose. I think he would be good-
looking if he had complexion. He has, in my opinion,
the air of a gentleman, and certainly the manners of
one. When he came near the American minister,
who is deaf and don't speak French, he asked him
how he did in French. The American, straining
every sinew in his ear in vain, turned for explanation
to his interpreter, who shouted out amazing loud,
"The First Consul, Sir, asks you how you are". The
gravity of the man's manner in delivering this made
everybody laugh. The Prince of Orange was there,
and seemed considerably chagrined. The Consul
spoke more with him than anybody else. None of
the Eno-lish dined with him but such as had been
already presented the last time. Yesterday the
Bishops were restored, or at least the treaty with
the Pope to that effect published.
1 Sir Joseph Banks— -The distinguished naturalist, who had sailed with Captain
Cook round the world (1743-1820).
l66 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Countess of Erne
To Frederick Foster.
Ickworth Park, Oct. 20th, 1800.
I send you a line, my dear Frederick, to acquaint
you with the grievous loss we have all sustained in
the death of the best beloved Mother. It happened
suddenly early yesterday morning from a spasm in
her stomack. What my grief and suffering is, no
words can say, as no mother could be a greater loss
to a daughter than she is to me. I am sure you will
share in it, my dear lad, and lament her who was
every way so deserving of affection and veneration
from every part of her family. — Yours sincerely and
affectionately, Mary C. Erne.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Frederick Th. Foster.
Devonshire House, Saturday, 1801.
I wrote to you yesterday, dearest Frederick, in
the greatest hurry and vexation. Your uncle had
been with me a great while, and though I admire,
as I always have done, his motives, yet I regret to
the greatest degree his decision. However, it is
done now, and I shall close my lips and comfort
myself with the conviction that in any and every
situation he will do himself credit. The danger has
been owing to Pitt's high sense of honor. He had
pledged himself, I hear, to the Catholic emancipa-
tion. He could not carry his point in the Cabinet;
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 1 67
the King had been firm, and Pitt sent in his resigna-
tion. His first idea and wish was to go out alone in
order to preserve to the country the measures and
system he thought essential to it, but a large pro-
portion of the Cabinet Ministers resigned with him,
and several of his friends; he has, however, urged
many to remain, and this occasions much conversa-
tion, and has created a kind of third party, as Lord
Hawkesbury, Addington,1 &c, say they are Pitt's
real friends, and the others are Canning's party.
This is hard on those who, as Canning2 says, sacrifice
their interest to their principles. Canning says
Addington ought to fall at the King's knees and ask
pardon for his annoyance. It is, indeed, most extra-
ordinary. You have no idea of the state of party,
and all the variety of conjectures formed. I think
Pitt has acted nobly, but almost too much so. He
is advising and helping his successor, and opens the
budget himself, so that he only goes out Thursday.
Lord St. Vincent is first Lord of the Admiralty,
Lord Hawkesbury, Secretary of State for the
Foreign Department. . . .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Feb. 19, 1801.
My dear Child, ... I think it a shame that
Addington has accepted the situation that William
Pitt held, because his merits are confined to those
^ Addington— Henry A., Viscount Sidmouth, prime minister from 1801 to 1803
(1757-1843). » Canning— George C, prime minister in 1827 (1770-1827).
168 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
which were necessary and sufficient as a Speaker,
and yet which are very inadequate to being Prime
Minister; a mild, well-tempered, candid, upright man
forms a good Speaker, but where are the talents, the
abilities, the wonderful resources with the genius of
Mr. Pitt to be found? Who is there can say that
they look up with confidence to Mr. Addington, or
indeed to any one of the new administration, except
Lord St. Vincent and the law department; besides
was not Addington Pitt's creature? and though Pitt,
with a romantick disinterestedness, has urged all
these people to stay in, does not one's heart prefer
those who have gone out? Mr. Elliott, Lord Heath-
field's son, alas, is desired by his father to stay in.
I don't think that all who have remained in have
done so from interested motives, but yet I think that
had not their hearts leaned that way they would
have felt at once that if Pitt resigned because he
could not carry this measure which he thought so
essential, that they who would certainly have sup-
ported him in it should have gone out too, and then
perhaps the King would have yielded. The bishops
and archbishops got hold of him, and persuaded him
that Catholic emancipation would endanger the Pro-
testant religion. Pitt felt himself pledged to Ireland,
and nobly went out upon it. It is supposed that,
sanguine as he is, he did not fully take the king's
opinions till it was too late. Some people think the
new administration will try for peace; they expect
some good news from the Mediterranean and of the
French squadron. I have given you a full dose
now. . . .
FROM FREDERICK FOSTER. 1 69
Frederick Foster
To Augustus Foster.
St. PETERSBURGH, January 10, 1802.
My dear Augustus, . . . The weather has
been at times extremely cold, 20 and 23 degrees,
and several people have been frozen, and it is not an
uncommon thing to have one's cheek or ear or tip of
the nose frozen; the remedy is to rub it instantly
with snow, for, if neglected, it may mortify. , . t
The other day I went to see the Palace of St.
Michael, which the Emperor Paul1 built. It is an
immense pile, something like the Queen's House in
London, but twice as large. The inside is very fine,
several of the rooms inlaid with Porphyry, Marble,
Lapis Lazuli, and Malakite. It was in this Palace that
he was murdered, and by the greatest chance in the
World, for his favorite had received a letter with an
account of the whole Conspiracy, and the names of
all the Conspirators, which he neglected to open;
and even when they did come, Paul had concealed
himself behind a screen, and the Conspirators were
going away in despair when one of them perceived
his legs; nay, further, though discovered, yet so
accustomed had they been to fear him that he had
completely awed them, and was going away, when a
Georgian chief flung a club at his head and knocked
him down, upon which the others ran in and com-
pleted their work. An Hanoverian, of the name
1 the Emperor Paul— The murder of the Emperor Paul I. took place on March 24,
1801. His tyrannical rule had caused much discontent (1754-1801).
170 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Benixin,1 was the man who conducted the whole, and
most probably if he had not been in the room Paul
would have escaped. The present Emperor was
immediately proclaimed.
John Leslie Foster, afterwards Baron F.
To his sister Harriet, afterwards Countess de Salis.
Paris, April 6, 1802.
My dear Harriet, ... I hope the last long
letter I wrote to you found you perfectly recovered,
and there is at least one letter from you on its road
to me. I send you an account of pomps and vanities,
and what you will think my great good fortune. I
was yesterday presented to Buonaparte, but, before
I give an account of your Protege, you shall endure
a chronological history of the means that brought
me there. The 1 5th of every month the first Consul
receives in the Court of the Tuilleries the Consular
guard, that is a selection of 5000 or 6,000 men from
all the armies of France accoutred at an expense and
with a magnificence that I suppose was never before
lavished on an equal number of soldiers. After that
he holds a Levee of the French Generals, the
Foreign Ambassadors, and such strangers as they
present to him. The Etiquette of a Court and
Court dress are strictly observed, and every one
agrees that the splendour of the Court of the Tuilleries
is much greater than ever was the old Court of
1 Benixin — More correctly Bennigsen.
FROM JOHN LESLIE FOSTER. 171
France. Having an introduction to our Minister, I
was, of course, among the Anglais to be presented.
At a previous ceremony we were all introduced to
Talleyrand-Perigord, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
the day before. I shall not delay you with an account
of the Renegade Bishop of Autun. He is not worth
it; it is enough to say of him that he was pompous,
awkward, and uncivil. The scarlet and silver in
which he was dressed only made him appear to
greater disadvantage. His person is as crooked as
his principles, and his face, unhappily for his beauty,
a faithful Picture of his Heart. The next Day,
Monday the 5th, Augustus and I went to the Tuilleries
at eleven o'clock, and were, luckily for us, by mistake
admitted into the Salle des Generaux instead of the
Salle des Ambassadeurs, which gave us an additional
two hours' contemplation of Buonaparte. At twelve
we passed through the Room to the Parade. It
lasted but an Hour. Buonaparte, mounted on a
noble white Horse, and surrounded by his Aides de
Camp and Generals, formed the first Part of it. At
one o'clock he returned to the Salle des Generaux.
He spoke to almost every one in it, and with a Grace
for an account of which you must wait a little longer.
I followed him everywhere in the Crowd, and hardly
lost an expression of his countenance. At two he
retired to change his dress previous to receiving the
strangers, who were supposed to be all the time in
the Salle des Ambassadeurs. I went down to them
to fall into the Ranks, found about 20 Anglais,
among them Lord Blayney, Lord Cowper, Lord
Arch. Hamilton, Mr. Cust, a Cambridge friend,
172 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Luttrell, &c. The Ambassadors were all there.
Among them were three celebrated characters;
D'Armfeldt the Swede, Markoff the Russian, and
Lucchesini the Prussian. The Prince of Orange
was also there. The most brilliant of the company
was Demidoff, a Russian nobleman. He had on his
breast a single Diamond valued at ,£30,000. In
half an hour we were shown upstairs, found a large
Circle, and were taken by the first Consul in the
order that we stood. The Ambassador of each
Nation presented his own countrymen; the first
Consul said something to almost every one, and not
much to any one. Now for his Person, what is he
like? I will first tell you what he is unlike. In the
first place he is unlike every other Person in the
World, and in the second place he is perfectly unlike
every Painting, Print, and Bust that has been taken
of him. I cannot say why so many artists have so
entirely failed, but if we may judge from the past,
Posterity will have no idea of the countenance of
Buonaparte; if Painting has failed, no words can
succeed. However, I am bound to tell you what I
think of him. He is about 5 feet 7 inches high,
delicately and gracefully made; his hair a dark brown
crop, thin and lank; his complexion smooth, pale,
and sallow; his eyes grey, but very animated; his
Eye Brows light brown, thin and projecting. All his
Features, particularly his Mouth and Nose, fine, sharp
defined and expressive beyond description; expressive
of what? Not of anything perce as the Prints ex-
pressed him, still less of anything mediant; nor has
he anything of that Eye whose bend doth awe the
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 173
World. The true expression of his countenance is
a pleasing melancholy, which, whenever he speaks,
relaxes into the most agreeable and gracious smile
you can conceive. To this you must add the appear-
ance of deep and intense thought, but above all the
predominating expression a look of calm and tran-
quil Resolution and Intrepidity which nothing human
could discompose. His address is the finest I have
ever seen, and said by those who have travelled to
exceed not only every Prince and Potentate now
being, but even all those whose memory has come
down to us. He has more unaffected dignity than
I could conceive in man. His address is the gentlest
and most prepossessing you can conceive, which is
seconded by the greatest fund of levee conversation
that I suppose any Person ever possessed. He
speaks deliberately, but very fluently, with particular
emphasis, and in a rather low tone of voice. While
he speaks his features are still more expressive than
his words. . . .
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Paris, April 13, 1802.
I thank you a thousand times for your kind letter,
and many, many thanks for letting her1 send a few
lines enclosed in it. If you knew how happy it
made me when I saw her handwriting; but, however,
as you think there may be an impropriety in their
1 her— Corisande de Gramont, daughter of the Duke de Gramont. She became
the wife of the Earl of Tankerville.
174 THE TW0 DUCHESSES.
being frequent, I yield, only I hope it would not
appear wrong my writing a little message now and
then just to say that I am alive. I long very much
to hear about her mother's answer, which will decide
in a great measure whether I am to be happy or
not. . . . Lord Cowper I dined with to-day.
He is not very well, and talks of not going to Italy
till next year. He has quite had his dose of Paris,
and now says that he shall probably go back to
London in May. How very little one's happiness
depends on the quantity of gold or silver dross one
has in one's pocket: he, with all his riches, rank, and
titles, seems to ennuy in every place he happens to
be in. At London he wished to go to Paris and
Italy, and at Paris he wants to go back again to
London. I am sure any situation is better than that
of a discontented rich man, because with all the idea
that he ought to be happy he never is so. ... I
have not seen Bonaparte since the presentation, but
there is to be a grand ceremony next Sunday that I
shall move Heaven and Earth to get at — the cele-
bration of the Peace, and of the re-establishment of
Religion, together, in the Cathedral of Notre Dame.
The Consuls are to attend, the Legates, Cardinals,
&c, and the Archbishop of Aix is to preach the
sermon. , . The people here seem to think of
nothing but how they may amuse themselves most.
I wonder if any Englishman ever yet preferred
France or any other country for living in to Eng-
land? As for me, I only feel the superiority of
England everywhere I go, and if I had a large
fortune I think I should never stir out of it.
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 1 75
Madame de Stael1 said t'other day that there were
only two countries free in the World, l'Angleterre et
l'Amerique. Menou is expected daily at this Hotel
with his Egyptian spouse. ... I dined at Madame
de Stael's yesterday. I was the only Englishman.
We had a bad dinner at a little, narrow table, many
of the men in boots. I don't admire Madame de
Stael much; she may have a vast deal of esprit, but
shews a vast deal too much of it, I think; or, in other
words, is a great bavard, and in my humble opinion
is a very disgusting woman. ... I have taken
great pains to find out whether the people here, in
passing the Place de la Concorde, where Louis was
guillotined, took off their hats, and I can assure you
that I never saw any one do so, and have, on inquiry,
never heard that any one did. It is surprizing why
people will circulate such lies in London. It would,
at any rate, be a very equivocal proof of their loyalty,
as the Jacobin would equally have reason to doff his
hat to the place which gave him liberty. . . .
Remember me to all my friends at Devonshire
House, and tell Corise that I have read her little
note over at least 20 times.
1 Madame de Stael — The celebrated French authoress, daughter of Necker, the
famous financier and minister of France, and wife of Baron de Stael - Holstein,
Swedish minister at Paris (1766-1817).
176 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
April, ? 1802?
[A Fragment.]
Paris must be much changed since you have been
here, for several buildings have been pulled down,
particularly about the Tuileries, and in many parts
new streets and fine hotels have been erected.
Shocking marks of devastation among the chateaux
and churches all along the road from Calais. At St.
Denis the Cathedral has been pillaged and every
statue or ornamental monument demolished; the
sepulchres torn open, and the bodies of the Kings
of France taken and burnt with lime and buried in
the churchyard. I saw the ruins of Chantilly, where
I stopped one night. That magnificent building,
which cost near 4 millions with the gardens, sold to
a carpenter and ironmonger for 1 30,000 livres! They
employed 2000 men to destroy it in order that they
might sell the materials before they were deprived
of them by a new revolution. The gardens were
ruined by the inhabitants of a village opposite the
chateau, and who lived by the Prince's bounty. It
is astonishing how the French bear their misfortunes;
some of them live in miserable little holes, perhaps
near their former magnificent hotels, and yet they
are as lively and gay as ever, and even laugh at
their . . .
Monday, April 5, 1802.
I have delayed sending this in order that I might
acquaint you of my presentation, which took place
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 177
to-day. Yesterday there were about sixteen English
in all presented to Talleyrand1 Perigord: he is a
shocking ugly fellow, with both his feet turned in-
wards. This morning I repaired in full dress at
half past n to the Tuileries with J. Leslie Foster.2
The troops were fast assembling; we, contrary to
custom for foreigners, but much to our own advan-
tage, and indeed from ignorance, went up the grand
staircase into the Salle des Officiers Generaux instead
of going below into a little room, where we should
have seen nothing. There were assembled all the
great generals and whole Etat major. Moreau was
not there, but I saw Massena,3 and many others of
note whose names I could not find out. Their
uniforms surpassed my ideas far — all in blue, richly
embroidered with gold. I did not see the parade
very well, but, however, the passing of the regiments
before the ist Consul I saw pretty well from the
windows. Previous to his mounting he passed
through the Salle, where we were, with a quick step,
and a little after we saw him on his beautiful dun
horse riding among the ranks attended by eight or
ten officers and one Mameluc richly dressed; it
rained hard, unfortunately, but, however, it was a
magnificent sight. As for me, it appeared to me
like a dream to find myself in the midst of the
conquerors of Italy and Germany, with Buonaparte
at their head. The famous regiment which stood
1 Talleyrand— One of the greatest diplomatists of the period, at one time a warm
supporter of Bonaparte (1754-1838).
"J. Leslie Foster — Baron first of the Court of Exchequer in Ireland, and after-
wards of the Court of Common Pleas.
3 Mussina. — One of the most celebrated of Bonaparte's generals, called by him
"Enfant de la Victoire" (1758-1817).
M
178 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
the brunt at the battle of Marengo was among them.
There were about 4000 men, Cavalry and Infantry,
all very simply but very well dressed. This lasted
for an hour, when Buonaparte returned to receive
petitions and talk to the generals, and I am sure no
King or Emperor ever went through a levee better:
he seemed to speak to every one, and not a repetition
of the same fulsome stuff to each, but something
which appeared adapted to each person, and
evidently sent them away pleased with him and
themselves. He is like the picture that was in
Piccadilly, but that gives him a severer countenance
than he has, for I think his face, which don't give
me the idea of heroic courage so much as of cool
intrepidity and collectiveness, is very expressive of
good nature. He has a very unaffected dignity in
my opinion, and appears perfectly at his ease, and
never at a loss for anything to say. He had several
petitions given him, which he read all on the spot.
I shall write to you to-morrow about my presentation.
At the time of his receiving the petitions he put me
in mind of Julius Caesar the day he was assassinated,
I am quite enthusiastic about him.
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Paris, April 18, 1802.
Vive 1'effronterie; sans elle je n'aurais rien vu de
la fete. On m'a repousse de porte en porte me
disant que mon billet d'entree ne valoit rien a. chaque
endroit au quel je me presentois, et enfin j'ai mis
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 179
1'important et je leur criois, Messieurs je ne puis
pas passer si vous de me faites pas de place, je suis
de l'Ambassade Angloise, laissez moi passer s'il vous
plait. Alors me voyant aussi dans un riche uniforme
les soldats se sont empresses de me faire de la place.
John Leslie1 que j'avois ammene avec moi me suivois
en me tenant, et nous sommes arrives heureusement
a l'endroit ou se placaient les Ambassadeurs dans le
fond de Notre Dame vis a vis de la Chaire. Now,
in plain English, I can only write a few lines to tell
you that it was a very magnificent and unique sight;
but to me it appeared that the idea of Religion was
not in the least connected with it. There was a
great crowd in the body and galleries of the Church
— on both sides of the altar were the Canopies; one
on the right, crimson and gold for the legate Caprera ;
on the left gold and crimson canopy supported by
five pillars, and underneath three chairs, the middle
for the First Consul, the other two for the secondary
Consuls. It is now midnight and a half. P. goes at
three. Therefore I shall send you a longer account
to-morrow. The Archbishop of Aix, now of Tours,
preached an excellent sermon, in the opinion of
several not enough thankful to the Government, but
attributing all to the powerful effect of Religion and
the natural consequence of things. Bonaparte and
the other two walked under a crimson canopy sup-
ported by four priests — the Archbishop of Paris,
Dubelloy, holding the Cross before him — all yielded
hommage.
1/ohn Leslie— John Leslie Foster, cousin of Augustus Foster, and Baron suc-
cessively of the Courts of Exchequer and Common Pleas in Ireland.
180 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Paris, April 19, 1802.
. . Yesterday, as I wrote you word, was the
great ceremony of celebrating the peace and the
establishmentof Religion. Mounier, Camille Jourdan,1
and most of that set consider it as a deathblow to
the hopes of Louis 18,2 who is now called le Pre-
tendant, as he went till now hand in hand with
religion, and as religion was the principal link which
connected his interests with those of the Honnetes
Gens of France, because Atheism was encouraged
and Piety laughed at. Now that the Government
proclaims Liberty of Conscience, that the bishops
have taken the oath of preserving the Constitution
and religion, and that they see that they may pray
without the aid of Louis, it will weaken his interest
very much in the country. The ceremony was very
magnificent and well ordered, but it struck me as
resembling anything rather than a religious cere-
mony, and the strange medley of military, armed cap
a pied, and of priests in petticoats was very ridiculous.
Buonaparte ordered beforehand that no Minister or
Ambassador should go to Notre Dame without four
horses to his carriage — he himself had eight — and
besides, six saddle horses, led each by a Mameluc
before the carriage, there were only the other two
Consuls with him. The people, who would cry Vive
1 Camille Jourdan — a French writer (1771-1821).
8 Louis JrF///.-(i7S5-i824).
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. l8l
to a Dog if a Dog were an amusement to them,
shouted Vive Buonaparte! Vive laRepublique! When
he got to the door of Notre Dame four priests met
him, supporting a sort of Canopy under which he
went, and behind him Cambaceres1 and Le Brun,2
and thus he marched, preceded by Dubelloy, Arch-
bishop of Paris, who held the Cross, through the
aisle to the throne, drums beating, arms presented,
and organs playing; it was altogether very fine.
The Bishops all took the oaths before him, and
bowed to him and the Cross; he himself took the
oath and kissed the book to preserve the religion.
The Archbishop of Aix read the sermon extempore;
it was very good, but the noise so great scarce half
of it could be heard. Many reckoned it too little
complimentary to Buonaparte; he seemed to con-
sider it as a matter of right and necessity the return
of religion into the country. I spoke to him after it
was over. Poor old man, he thought nobody heard
him. I pleased him by telling him that I heard
tolerably well. I saw Massena and M' Donald.3 The
last resembles Lord Morpeth, I think; he is fair
faced and gentlemanlike-looking. Massena is black-
faced and seems a scoundrel. Buonaparte I still
admire. His face was perfectly grave during the
whole ceremony. After it was over he pleased every-
body by his condescension in speaking to them.
What was rather mockery, I think — I did not see it
myself — but Camille Jourdan told me that he crossed
himself several times as well as Cambaceres. That
1 Camhacirh — Second consul (1753-1824).
5 Le Brun — Third consul (1739-1824).
8 M'Donald— Marshal M'Donald (1765-1810).
1 82 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
was trop fort for one once a professed Turc. Madame
Buonaparte1 dresses very lightly; seems to have been
pretty; she, with Madame Joseph,2 1 think her daugh-
ter, and Madame Murat,3 her sister-in-law, and Louis
Buonaparte4 with several ladies, was placed in a
gallery a little above the altar on the left; she only
came with two horses to her carriage. The Duchess
of Cumberland5 is here; the princes of Orange and
Weimar. . . . Don't let Corise forget me, and tell
her that she is never absent from my thoughts in
the middle of all this bustle. . . .
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
. . . What say you to the Catholic Question?
In my opinion no one solid argument has been
brought forward against the Emancipation. Grattan6
was a flower of eloquence, but I fear sadly they will
lose Ireland by the refusal, if so 'che sfortunato Re'.
Nelson has been displaying his great name in the
Western World. He has appeared and gone again
like a comet without doing mischief, but I sadly fear
they will get to Ireland before him. . . . The
Americans are sending across the continent to find
the source of the great river Missouri, the elder
branch of the Mississippi, and their people have
written from 1600 miles up its banks.
1 Madame Bonaparte — Josephine (1763-1814).
2 Madame Joseph — Wife of Joseph Bonaparte.
3 Madame Murat — (1782-1839). 4 Louis Bonaparte — (1778-1806).
6 Duchess of Cumberland — Frederica of Mecklenburg Strelitz.
6 Grattan — (1750-1820).
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 1 83
Augicstus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Boyukdere, June 10, 1803.
. . . I should not forget to tell you that I saw
the slave market about three days ago : an officer of
the Reis Effendi1 took us in there. There were
great numbers of blacks enforced to sale in the halls
and whites within the rooms; there was no one very
handsome, they all, I thought, looked excessively
melancholy. I got our Dragoman to question a
white lady, not ugly, that was sitting cross-legged in
one of the rooms. She told us that she was a Cir-
cassian. He said that we came with a commission to
see and buy slaves, and she begged that we might
take her; however, it is not permitted to a Christian
to buy, he may commission his Janizary to purchase
for him; it would be rather a bore, however, to
depend upon his taste, and beauties are bought up
before they land for the pashas and Grand Signors;
it is very seldom that any very handsome are to be
found in the market. Our Turk had promised that
we should see one more lovely than a Sultana, or in
other terms, as he expressed himself, one so fair that,
as she drank water, one might see it gurgle down
her pearly throat; the price of such a one may be
about ,£1000; the common run of pretty ones is
from ^300 to ,£600, and a black may be had for
^50. As we were returning we saw a man who, dis-
contented with his slave, was refusing her upon the
1 Reis Effendi — The title of the Turkish minister of foreign affairs.
184 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
plea that she was sickly, desiring the merchant to
feel her pulse and examine her hand; the other
vociferated that he ought to stick to his bargain.
The girl, by her motions, was explaining what she
was fit for — sewing, working, washing, &c. She was
a very pretty slender Circassian. I could have beat
the man for his bad taste in giving her back; it is
quite like a sale of horses, or any other cattle. The
Blacks are innumerable, according to the different
nations, more in features distinguished from one
another than I thought such complexions would
admit of. The market place has four sides, and a
sort of booth or collection of coffee-houses in the
middle. We examined and even entered into the
halls and rooms on three sides, but on the fourth
some Turks rather roughly objected to our going
into the rooms as the Firman did not mention that;
however, we saw all that was worth seeing. This
and the printing office at Scutari are among the
most curious things that I have seen. The Turks
have learned from us to make Geographical Charts;
the first they ever did.
Charles James Fox'1
To Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire.
1803. St. Anne's Hill, August 12.
My dear Duchess, — I have no intention to abuse
you for a neglect which was in itself so unimportant,
1 Charles James Fox — Burke called him the greatest debater the world ever
saw ; and Sir James Mackintosh said he was the most Demosthenic speaker since
Demosthenes (1749-1806).
FROM THE EARL OF ABERDEEN. 185
but am very sorry you have such an excuse to make
as Lady Georgiana's illness. I should have had no
curiosity, much less anxiety, upon the matter if it had
not been that I wished to know whether the lan-
guage, which I knew Sheridan would hold to him,
had any effect and what. I think I can see by the
newspaper accounts of the debate that Sheridan dis-
liked Francis1 pressing him on the subject of the
Prince very much, and that if there was any difficulty
he got very well out of it.
I am very sorry the Duke has so bad a fit of the
gout. I do not believe the French will come: if
they do, by what I see they will find us as unpre-
pared as ever owing to the last foolish manoeuvres
of the Doctor.2
Yours ever,
C. J. Fox.
P.S. — I hear an admirable quotation of yours
upon S. and his prepared Uniform. Motley your
only wear should be his motto.
The Earl of Aberdeen*
To Augustus Foster.
Edinburgh, August 14, 1804.
Dear Augustus, — You will participate in my grief
when I tell you that I arrived last night at Edin-
1 Francis — Sir Philip F., supposed author of the celebrated Letters of Junius
(1740-1818).
*the Doctor— Henry Addington, prime minister from 1801 to 1803 (1757-1844).
3 The Earl of Aberdeen — George Hamilton Gordon, Earl of Aberdeen, prime
minister from 1852 to 1855. He was a man of culture, a student of Greek architec-
1 86 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
burgh, which is of all places the most horrible.
There is a most plentiful crop of grass in the streets,
which the painter of the panorama has omitted, much
to the injury of the Rurality of the scene.
I am going to-morrow into Aberdeenshire. Do
not imagine I shall really die, for I shall contrive to
vegetate and give you accordingly some signes de
Vie.
Pray remember me to Lady Elizabeth and to the
Duchess when you see them next, and tell them that
if any wayward friend is obstinately bent upon visit-
ing our northern wilds to send him to me, and I will
do my best to entertain him, that is to say, give him
good shooting. Bid them think what a state the
Belle Nature of that country must be in, when
murder is the only amusement.
Were I not in possession of a calendar, but was to
judge from my sore lips and red nose, I should be
tempted to set out instantly for London, thinking
Christmas past; reflection, however, informs me that
five or six gloomy months must pass. Although I
cannot in strict justice say
Ye gods, annihilate both time and Space
And make two lovers happy,
yet I am persuaded that no Lover ever preferred the
request with more fervency. Having now poured
forth my sorrows, I beg you will write to me, and
about your own plans, when you go to your Exile
and how. My direction is Haddo House, Aberdeen-
ture and antiquities, and had visited Athens by this time ; hence Byron designated
him as "the travelled thane, Athenian Aberdeen " (1784-1860).
FROM THE EARL OF ABERDEEN. 1 87
shire. I shall also expect to hear from you as soon
as you have touched Philadelphia ground.
Believe me, ever most truly yours,
Aberdeen.
PS. — If I am not lost and benighted in my own
deserts, I will write shortly after my arrival, in hopes
of its finding you still in England. Adieu.
The Earl of A berdeen
To Augustus Foster.
Cromarre,1 August 20, 1804.
Dear Augustus, — I wrote you from Edinburgh a
letter which might be called the Lamentations of
Jeremiah, so dismal were the contents; however, I
am now rejoiced at the intelligence that you are not
to Columbize, for I this evening received your letter
after a mountain massacre.2 I do not find this
country so horrible as I imagined, or as you seem to
think, and there is a sensible pleasure at standing to
look around one and being able to see nothing but
one's own.
What can you be about at Gell's?3 I hope and
trust you will come down here: throw yourself into
the Mail and you will arrive at Aberdeen in three
days and a half. Nothing would give me half so
much pleasure as to see you. My Constantinopoli-
tan plan is in statu quo, that is to say, nothing
1 Cromarre — A district of Aberdeenshire, on the Dee.
a vtountain massacre — Of grouse.
3 Gelt — Sir William Gell, a learned classical antiquary (1777-1836).
1 88 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
certain, at all events it probably is stopped until next
Spring. London must be wretched at present,
which makes me hope you will not be so averse to
quit it, therefore (Si quis adhuc precibus locus) come.
Congratulate Lady Elizabeth from me at your escape
from eating entrails, like the Esquimaux, or bedaub-
ing your face with Tallow, like the Iroquois. I
should think there could not be much difficulty in
despatching you eis ten poling and that you will
soon be restored to the beauties of the Bosphorus.
I am now midst " Mountains vast and Bogs Ser-
bonian ", but am going into the low country in a few
days. In the meantime, pray write, and tell me all
the news. Farewell, and believe me, with the greatest
sincerity,
Aberdeen.
The Earl of Aberdeen
To Augustus Foster
KlNRARA,2 Sept. 22, 1804.
Dear Augustus, — I have for the last month been
speculating as to your fate, which, when you wrote
last, appeared to be as uncertain as one could well
desire. I send you this epistle in order to be in-
formed both of it and a variety of events. I am
here at the Duchess of Gordon's cottage in the
Highlands for two or three days: she means to
Leis tin folin — The Greek words for "to the city" This expression being
constantly in people's mouths in ancient times gave origin to the names Istamlol,
Stamloul, for Constantinople ; hence the use of these words in the letter.
^Kinrara — In Inverness-shire, near the Spey, now the property of the Duke of
Richmond and Gordon, one of whose titles is Earl of Kinrara.
FROM THE EARL OF ABERDEEN. 1 89
reappear in London next winter if she can procure a
house large enough for the magnificent fetes which
she proposes to give. From this I go to Blair (the
Duke of Athol's) in order to massacre a few red deer,
but shall quickly proceed to my own retreat of Vail
Ombrosa, near Dunira, than which nothing can be
more beautiful. With regard to any external mo-
tions, I am very uncertain if I shall again walk the
olive groves of Academia,1 or freeze midst hyper-
borean snows, or inhale the smoke of London — per-
haps the last. Is Gell gone to Zante, as the time
which he proposed for departing is arrived? Tell
me what is doing in Babylon,2 though I suppose you
will say nothing, but that is not sufficient. Your
ancient flame is at last gone, and I can only hope
that you have none of the veteris vestigia flammae
remaining. Are the French come? for it would
appear as if you expected them every day.
But perhaps you are already gone, and this mis-
sive may find you after an interview with his most
Catholic Majesty at the Buen Retiros or L'Escurial.
God knows, however, if you may not have crossed
the Atlantic and heard the muddy notions of the
Americans about Liberty, how unlike our Athens;
but wherever you may be, believe me to be, with
great friendship,
Aberdeen.
Should you perchance be still in London, I beg to
be remembered to Lady Elizabeth and the Duchess.
1 olive groves of Academia — That is whether he shall again go to Athens.
1 Balylon — London.
I90 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
The Earl of A berdeen
To Augustus Foster.
Haddo,1 Nov. 20, 1804.
Dear Augustus, — I long very much to know how
you are satisfied with the Terra Australis, and how
you like your situation; if you are content I shall
feel real pleasure. Tell me something about your
Society: in what does the haut ton Americain con-
sist? You see that I am still buried in these
Northern Wilds, but am now meditating a flight to
London, where I shall stay five or six months, at the
end of which I should hope to be able to undertake
the Grecian expedition. Gell is gone with Mercer
and Baker.
I have always been of opinion that Russia will do
nothing, and, though I hope not, yet fear that idea
will be confirmed. I understand that the King has
not been quite so well of late, but at all events the
reconciliation between him and the Prince has done
much good. I cannot speak with certainty as to the
appointment of Lord Moira and Tierney2 in Ireland:
if Lord Moira wishes it he will get it certainly: but
I do not apprehend that he is anxious about it.
I belong this winter to the Duchess's boxes at the
Play, where, however, I shall but too often miss you;
it is really lamentable the great distance at which
you are, which so entirely precludes all my exertions
to see you. . . .
1 Haddo — The family residence of the Earls of Aberdeen in Aberdeenshire, near
the river Ythan.
* Tierney — George T., statesman and political critic (1761-1830).
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 191
If there is anything you wish done with dispatch,
accuracy, and good -will, pray write to me, and you
may depend upon my doing everything to shew you
with what sincerity of friendship I am, and shall be,
ever y°urs' Aberdeen.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
December 5, 1804.
We have been in town now but a few days, and
we removed from Chiswick sooner than we expected,
in consequence of the melancholy event that hap-
pened there. Poor John Brown, the Duke's faithful
servant, fell from his horse in an apoplectic fit, and
died the fourth day. It was very shocking, and he
is sincerely regretted by all the servants. I have
been nervous and hurried for some time past owing
to an arrangement that is about to be made for the
payment of the Duchess's debts. There never was
anything so angelic as the Duke of Devonshire's
conduct, and the many conversations I had with him
on the subject, though it made me so nervous at the
time, have made me happier now, and, if possible,
increased my admiration and attachment to him. I
feel secure now that she will avoid things of this
kind for the future, and though the sum is great, yet
it will end well I am convinced. I know so well
your feelings about them that I have a pleasure in
telling you what has passed.
As for politicks, though every day an account of
192 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Bonaparte's coronation and Russia's decision is ex-
pected, nothing hardly is seen or talked of but this
young Roscius.1 I saw him his first night as Achmet
or Selim in Barbarossa; I saw him last night as
Norval in Douglas. He is but thirteen, and yet I
never saw anything to compare to him; his is the
inspiration of genius, with the correctness of taste
belonging generally to experience and study alone,
feeling far beyond his years, and a knowledge of the
stage equal to any performer, and far more graceful :
in short, he has changed the life of London; people
dine at four, and go to the Play, and think of nothing
but the play. How I wish you were here! Frederick
is just returned from Ickworth, but I have not seen
him. I have sent to ask him to the Play. The
Hawkesburys stay in town for this boy's acting all
next week. Sheridan took him to Carleton House,
and the Prince told me that his manner was perfect;
it was simple, graceful, and unaffected. As to the
applause, the Pit, which is filled with men, not con-
tent with applauding, over and over again cry out
Bravo ! Bravo ! I don't suppose such applause could
ever be exceeded. , . .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, Dec. 18, 1804.
... I suppose before the day that the Mails
are closed for America that the Spanish War will be
•■young Roscius— William Betty, the boy actor. See Appendix.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 193
officially declared. . . . Parliament meets the
15th, and the Session is expected to be stormy;
some rumours, however, are still afloat of peace,
general peace, and that France will make the over-
tures. Pitt will have to contend with a strong
opposition probably, though probably also he will
have enticed over some of those who never could
resist the attraction of power, place, or Court favor.
I should not be surprised if an Earl nearly connected
with Devonshire House should be one. He is under
the influence of the love of those three things just
named, and also that of a fair lady, whose yearly
visits at his Country House have often directed his
Politicks, and a little Scotch blood in her veins
makes her sensible to the good things of this world.
I beg dear Lord Aberdeen's pardon for this reflec-
tion : he has only the good, and none of the bad, of
Scotch inheritances.
December 19.
. . . All politicks have given way to ad-
miration and interest and curiosity about young
Roscius. The most unbelieving, like General Fitz-
patrick,1 have, on seeing him, confessed that he is
admirable as an actor, and cease talking of him as
a boy. General Fitzpatrick wrote to Charles Fox
that he had been astonished and delighted. Mr.
Fox came to town to see him, but the dear boy was
ill and confined to his bed. Every precaution was
taken to prevent any tumult from disappointment,
and Wroughton read the physician's letter, in which
1 General Fitzpatrick— -Wit and politician, the most intimate friend of Charles
James Fox.
N
194 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
he said the boy could not act without great risk, and
Mr. Jordan acted in both play and farce. How I
wish you could see him! It is the inspiration of
genius with perfect nature and a grace of action
unequalled, never forced in any character.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
December 25, 1804.
I must begin by hoping that this may have been
a happy Christmas to you, and many may you see.
There have been so many rumours of changes here
that I waited a little to know what was truth before
I wrote again. Two days ago the Prince of Wales
sat some time with me in my room, and told me that
Addington and Pitt shook hands, and had dined at
Lord Hawkesbury's. This seemed so strange that
I thought it one of those rumours with which people
about him amuse his idle hours, but yesterday it was
declared, and the papers at least attribute the recon-
ciliation to the King. That men who have opposed
each other violently should become friends is not a
matter of surprise or novelty, but to forgive cold,
unpitying scorn and contempt has been hitherto
unheard of, and the Morning Chronicle will not let
it be forgot that Pitt applied the most contemptuous
terms to Addington and his administration. If the
Doctor1 comes into office he will have a majority of
the Cabinet, and I should not be surprised if he in
* the Doctor — A nickname of Addington.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 195
a few months turned out Pitt. The report is also
that Lord Hawkesbury returns to the foreign depart-
ment. All I feel to care for in this is whether it is
a favorable change to you. Kind as Lord Harrowby
was, I should hope relationship might do still more
— at least it is a fair claim for promotion. Poor
Lord Harrowby fell down stairs as I told you, but
he was sufficiently recovered to be removed yester-
day. The Princess Charlotte1 of Wales is at Carleton
House, and played, poor little thing, on the Piano-
forte to the Prince to-day. She is pretty, I hear, and
clever. The King wanted to have her given up to
him. The Prince does not consent to that, but
appoints as nearly as he can all the persons whom
the King would have named about the little Princess.
I believe that Miss Trimmer will be sub-preceptress.
The Duke of Portland has been in a very bad state
of health and retires. What the King's real state is
I don't know, but he went to the Play in an admiral's
uniform, which he never did before. Sometimes he
wears the uniform of the Oxford Blues, and the
other day received Sir Charles Poole on some naval
business in an old naval uniform of Lord Howe's
time, These are facts which tell, yet what is to be
done whilst he can talk collectedly on business?
Young Roscius is still ill ; that is the worst news, and
very ill. . . .
26th.
The Morpeths, Lady Bessborough, Lord Cowper,
and Mr. Ward supped here. Mr. Ward told
1 The Princess Charlotte— The only child of the Prince Regent, afterwards George
IV. She was married to Leopold, king of the Belgians, but died at the age of
twenty-one (1796-1817).
196 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Henry Dillon he was afraid the fame of his pam-
phlet would outlive the stability of his principles,
and Lord St. Vincent wrote to a friend three days
ago, " Addington in opposition is a very different
man from what he was in power; he will be firm and
steady," e ben trovato. Canning and Lord Granville1
will be miserable at this; it lowers so Pitt's fine, lofty
mind.
Corisande is still unmarried. Ossulston2 is gone
to Cambridge for a week or ten days. I daresay he
won't marry till March, because he then expects a
little money, but it is sad dawdling.
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Washington, Dec. 30, 1804.
. . . I have at last reached this soi-disant city,
as you perceive, and am settled with Toujours Gai,s
but such a place; you can have no imagination of it,
it is so unlike every other sort or description of a
heap of human abodes calling itself a city. I made
a visit yesterday to the only pleasant family in the
place, who live five miles off — a Mrs. Barry, an Irish
woman, who has got a pretty daughter (that I mean
to carry with me as cara sposa all' Inghilterra); the
badness of the weather and the roads, and the
wretchedness of the carriages, will be the most power-
1Lord Granville — Granville Leveson Gower, Earl Granville, diplomatist (1773-
1846).
2 Ossulston — Lord Ossulston, son of the Earl of Tankerville, to which title he
succeeded (1776-1859). 3 Toujours Gai — A punning designation.
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 197
ful obstacles to this intention of mine. I wrote to
you from Norfolk last. At Baltimore I got into a
round of assemblies for five or six days that I stayed
there, and among the rest beheld Madame Jerome1
Buonaparte, who has not a good figure, but a very
delicate skin, and, I think, very pretty little features.
Jerome2 was confined. They have both been sadly
tantalized about getting away. They were ship-
wrecked once, and are afraid to go out in a frigate
that lies in the Chesapeake. The French Minister
did not return his visit, so I suppose that he is in
high disgrace with the Emperor. This is a sad
distance to be at from all the civilized world, and
whenever I think of Europe, I always think I see
an immense swell of sea between me and it. This
place looks like — what, in fact, it is — an infant colony.
Every man has built his house of wood or brick just
where his fancy chose, so that there are hardly six
buildings together in the whole of this immense
space. I was presented to the President,3 who
behaved to me very civilly in general. Merry says
he has not spoken to others he introduced to him.
He is dressed and looks extremely like a very plain
farmer, and wears his slippers down at his heels:
only think what must have been poor Toujours Gai's
embarras when at his first audience he went all
bespeckled with the spangles of our gaudish Court
* Madame Jerome— Daughter of Mr. Patterson, a rich Baltimore merchant.
i Jerome— Youngest brother of Napoleon. He was king of Westphalia from
1807 to 1813. He married a princess of Wurtemburg while his first wife was still
alive, the marriage with Miss Patterson being declared null and void by Napoleon
after he had become emperor (1784-1860).
3 the President— Thomas Jefferson, president of the United States from 1801
to 1809 (1743-1826).
198 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
dress: the door opened suddenly too. He thrust
out his hand to me as he does to everybody, and
desired me to sit down. Luckily for me I have
been in Turkey, and am quite at home in this
primeval simplicity of manners. However, they
ought to establish some rule for foreign ministers if
they will copy at all the customs of civilized Courts.
As to this variegated nation — composed of British
of all descriptions, of French, Dutch, Swiss, Africans,
&c, I can form not the least idea as yet: all I know
is that I have been disappointed in some things,
particularly in their want of land eternally, and their
thieving, which is carried to such an extent that there
is no keeping even standing corn at a distance from
your house here. Poor Mr. Merry is in perpetual
alarm lest his disorder should return, and Mrs.
Merry has had a very violent fever with which she
still is confined to her bed. He really is a very good
man, though [not?] the most methodical in the world.
We live pretty well, but I have only got one room,
and unluckily I sent my books and most of my things
from Norfolk up the Potomac, so that they are not
yet arrived. . . .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
1804.
. . . The cultivation of the muses would most
agreeably occupy your leisure moments, and lead
you to a study of all that can form and refine your
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 1 99
taste; it would encourage also the enthusiasm which
I think so necessary to your happiness in every
situation ... a really true enthusiastic mind will
never want an object for its enthusiasm: you may
be an enthusiast in friendship, an enthusiast in love,
in the forming of one's own character to the practice
of every virtue and the fulfilling of every duty; and
enthusiasm is, in fact, what, well directed, leads to the
attainment of every virtue, and enables the possessor
of it to walk out of the common track of common
characters who rest satisfied with doing what is
required of them, but never are equal to that most
generous, most rare of all qualities l'oubli de soi
meme (unselfishness) : it also leads to a great indul-
gence for others, and a great severity to one's self.
In short, enthusiasm appears to me (perhaps you
will say I am pleading my own cause) the vivifying
heat that must bring forth the seed of all that is
good in our natures, and lead to the imitation of all
we see good in others. The enthusiasm which in-
spired you with some of those very beautiful lines
on the deserted plains of Thebes would, if cherished,
equally fill your mind at home with admiration of
the Duke of Devonshire's admirable taste and under-
standing, and constant friendship of Mr. Hare, and
the various excellencies of Mr. Fox's patriotism and
transcendent abilities, Mr. Pitt's wonderful talents,
&c, &c, and would also make you determine to
distinguish yourself. ... I shall perhaps write again
and again on this subject, for pray remember, when
you say that my enthusiasm has had a fair and well-
shaped channel, that I was younger than you when
200 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
I was without a guide; a wife and no husband; a
mother and no children; travelling for my health,
which was impaired by sorrow, and by myself alone
to steer through every peril that surrounds a young
woman so situated: — books, the arts, and a wish to
be loved and approved; an enthusiastic friendship
for these my friends; a proud determination to be
my own letter of recommendation; these, with per-
haps manners that pleased, realized my projects, and
gained me friends wherever I have been — but adieu,
I must go. Read Candide as an amusement, but
Voltaire will only amuse but never improve except
in tragedies — a firm and manly trust in the provi-
dence of God will give you happier hours than ever
Candide's philosophy can. Heaven bless and direct
you.
ON THE DEATH OF JAMES HARE.
BY GEORGIANA, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE, AND LADY
ELIZABETH FOSTER.
Hark! 'twas the Knell of Death! What spirit fled
And burst those shackles man is doomed to bear?
Can it be true, and midst the senseless Dead
Must sorrowing Thousands count the Loss of Hare?
Shall not his Genius Life's short Date prolong —
Pure as the aether of its kindred Sky?
Shall Wit enchant no longer from his Tongue
Or beam in vivid Flashes from his Eye?
Oh, no, that mind for every Purpose fit
Has met, alas, the universal Doom.
Unrivalled Fancy, Judgment, Sense, and Wit
Were his, and only left him at the Tomb.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 201
Rest, Spirit, rest, for gentle was thy Course ;
Thy Rays, like temper'd Suns, no Venom knew;
For still Benevolence alloy'd the Force
Of the keen Darts thy matchless Satire threw.
Yet not alone thy Genius I deplore;
Nor o'er thy various Talents drop the Tear;
But weep to think I shall behold no more
A lov'd Companion and a Friend sincere.
[James Hare, 1749-1804, was a friend of the Two Duchesses, of Charles James
Fox, and of many others of his eminent contemporaries.]
ON THE PEERAGE.
EPIGRAM BY GEORGIANA, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE.
When a Peerage they give to some son of the earth,
Yet he still is the same as before;
'Tis an honour if gained as the premium of worth,
But exposes a blockhead the more.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
February 4, 1805.
The ferment continues about Young
Roscius, and to-morrow he acts Octavian again. It
is the only character I have seen him in in which
the beauties of his acting could not surmount the
disadvantages of his extreme youth. He spoke, and
the tones of his voice went to the heart as a man
reduced to madness from unhappy love; but he
looked a boy, and they had made Mrs. St. Leger,
who acts in Valentine and Orson, do the part of
Floranthe with him — she is six feet high.
202 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
$th.
I ought to talk of politicks to you, but all con-
versation begins and ends with Roscius. There
never was anything like the beauty of his acting last
night, yet it is a wretched play. Mr. Fitzpatrick
went to the boy's room to be acquainted with him.
His manners are those of a young man of the first
fashion and good breeding. He is an astonishing
creature, and you would admire him, I am sure.
Think of his feeling, too. When he first rehearsed
Hamlet, he had so worked himself up that when, in
the closet scene, he says, "On him! on him! look
how pale he glares!" he fainted in the arms of his
friend. Mr. Hough, the prompter, caressed and
soothed him, and said he should rehearse no more
that night; and next day he said, "What, my dear
boy, moved and affected you so last night?" "Why,"
he said, "I thought I did see my father's ghost."
Caroline Wortley tells me that his acting Hamlet is
the finest piece of acting she ever saw or can con-
ceive.
Well, now, as to other things. Pitt is said to have
written two letters to the King urging the making
Prettyman Archbishop of Canterbury, which he
refused doing, and Sutton is appointed. Lord Mel-
ville is said to have recommended Admiral Cochrane
to go out to the West India Fleet, and this is not
done. The rumour for some days was that Pitt
must go out, but I do not think it. You will see a
contradiction of the statement in Cobbett's1 paper
about Canning. I have avoided asking about it out
1 William Coibett — Political and miscellaneous writer (1762-1835).
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 203
of delicacy to the Hawkesburys, but I believe there
were friends of Canning's that would not let it rest
so. I believe Wallace has been indiscreet, else I
know not how Cobbett could have had possession of
the transaction, or, at least, of what was said of it.
Next Friday Mr. Grey's1 motion on the Spanish
papers comes on. They are rejoicing it is not
Thursday, as Roscius acts Romeo! Opposition will
divide strong, I should think. . . . All here is as
you left it. Corisande still unmarried, and Ossulston
without money to marry: how long he thinks he can
go on so I know not: it makes her, poor little thing,
feel very uncomfortable. Dune, seems a little smitten
with your friend Mrs. Payne; but her manner is
quite proper. B. North looks in despair; I believe
she has cut him quite; and Lord and Lady Villiers
look happiness itself. Lady Boringdon very hand-
some and happy, and he seems proud and fond of
her. H. Dillon has hid himself.
Augustus Foster
To Lady 'Elizabeth Foster.
Washington, February 8, 1805.
. . . Though I have not as yet seen much of
this country, I have seen enough to be convinced
that it will not do to stay a great while in it. This,
undoubtedly, is a miserable place, but the elect of all
1 Mr. Grey— Afterwards Earl Grey, prime minister when the great Reform Bill
of 1832 was passed (1764-1845).
204 THE TW0 DUCHESSES.
the States are assembled in it; and really such a
gang to have the affairs of an Empire wanting little
of the size of Russia entrusted to them makes one
shudder. Imagination is dead in this country; wit
is neither to be found nor is it understood among
them; all the arts seem to shrink from it, and you
hear of nothing but calculation and speculation in
money or in Politics. When I am introduced to a
person here, I am quite at a loss what to converse
with him upon. Their depth of reading generally
goes no further than Tom Paine's muddy pamphlets,
or more generally their own still more muddy
political newspapers. If they go as far as books of
travels and magazines it is a very great deal. I
have frequently attended their Congress. There are
about five persons who look like gentlemen; all the
rest come in the filthiest dresses, and are well indeed
if they look like farmers, but most seem apothecaries
and attorneys. There is only one man who can
speak well; he is the leader of the Republicans, or,
as the Federalists call them, Democrats — Randolph.1
He is, I believe, going to England and to France
with a little nephew who is deaf and dumb, but
extremely intelligent, to take him to Lizard. I shall
give him a letter for you, for, though the strangest-
looking Demagogue you ever set eyes on, he is very
gentlemanlike, and, for this country, a prodigy. He
has a little of the affectation of a self-taught and late-
taught politician, but he is certainly clever, and, as a
^Randolph — John Randolph, an American statesman distinguished for his elo-
quence, wit, sarcasm, and eccentricity, and for thirty years more talked and written
of than any other American politician. He boasted that the Indian Princess
Pocahontas was one of his ancestors (1773-1833). (From Chambers' Cyclopaedia^.
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 2Q$
descendant of the Indian Queen Pocahontas,1 you will
be interested about him. . . . I do not think that
this ever will become a great city. The Demon of
speculation has already fixed himself here; and,
instead of giving premiums for building, the land is
very dear. There is no commerce whatever, and all
the increase arises from the demand for houses for
the members of Congress, and those whom they
bring here; but I heard so bad an account of this
wretched settlement, that the only thing I was dis-
appointed in was the hope of finding great forests of
fine trees, instead of which the land is mere waste in
the city, and all the trees have been cut for fire. In
short, if I don't fall in love very soon the dullness
that stares you in the face in this letter will irrevoc-
ably get hold of me. I do nothing but read the
Tempest and Midsummer Night's Dream and Virgil
to try and keep alive the embers of imagination; but
really there is in this demi-city demi-wilderness so
lovely a damsel of parti-coloured extraction — Irish
and Portuguese — that I won't quite be sure of not
melting a little; if so, I shall be destined to be always
falling in love with Roman Catholics. She is the
most determined devotee in existence, almost starves
herself on fast days, but certainly is beautiful; how-
ever son ancora intatto per sicuro.
''■Pocahontas— Daughter of Powhatan, an Indian chief of Virginia, married to
John Rolfe in 1613, and baptized by the name of Rebecca (1595-1617).
206 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster,
Washington, Feb. 15, 1805.
I saw Jerome Bonaparte last night. You seem
to be interested about him in England. Those
letters are undoubtedly authentic, though he tries
to persuade Madame and his friends that they
are forgeries. He has made several attempts to
go away, and now says he will go with her in
three months. He is in size rather smaller than
Napoleon, and very like Lord Bristol1 in figure.
He is only like Bonaparte in the lip. The French
Minister and his affect to call his wife Miss
Patterson in speaking to others of her. They are
both, I think, very much to be pitied; and though
he has been extravagant here, yet he has in general
conducted himself in company modestly and unas-
suming; but that and his youth cannot save him
from the ill-nature of these most ill-natured rene-
gades from all countries under the sun, the American
inhabitants of towns. His daughter is wife of an
Irish refugee, who came over here in a very low
situation, indeed, as some say, hostler; but at present
against his character thers is not the least imputation:
however, truth is hard to be got at here. . . .
1 Lord Bristol — The Bishop of Derry had died in Italy in 1803, and his son
Frederick was now Earl (and afterwards marquis) of Bristol (1769-1859).
FROM THE EARL OF ABERDEEN. 207
Lady Elisabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
March 3, 1805.
. . . Miss Drummond is in love, they say,
with Young Roscius, so that all her lovers must
despair. He is truly, as Mr. Pitt says, a prodigy,
and I do grieve that you are not here to see and
admire him. It has made a change in London life,
and the theatre is now the great topic of conversa-
tion and the favorite amusement. Even Grassini1
complains that he has spoiled the Opera, and is the
great attraction to all people. I assure you that the
great politicians consult what day he acts that they
may not give their dinners on those days. We saw
him the other day at Lady Abercorn's. Lady
Hamilton did her attitudes, and the Boy was asked
to recite. He refused a great while. At last his
father asked him. He said, " I must do whatever
my father desires me," and came, not over-pleased, to
the room where people were waiting to see him, and
then he recited a speech of Hassan's.
The Earl of A berdeen
To Augustus Foster.
March 4, 1805.
My dear Augustus, — It is but two days since I
emerged from obscurity and resumed my place
1 Grassini — Josephina Grassini, the finest Italian singer of her time (1775-1850).
208 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
amongst the constellations which adorn Babylon.
That you wallow in space is most true, but that you
embrace the Heavenly Goddess of Liberty I beg
leave to doubt; it must be a painted representation,
no more like her than a Volunteer is to a Soldier.
Your Republic is certainly in her childhood, but she
has nothing of infancy but its frowardness, and in-
stead of the strength and vigour of youth she has
nothing but its insolence and ignorance. The re-
semblance of Washington to Rome is a good bur-
lesque. As for my Plans they are far from being
decided, whether I go to Happy climes or remain
here, whether I roam in Liberty amongst the
Beauties of the Day or content myself with the
possession of one object. The thermometer of my
affections is not very far from the freezing point, and,
what is worse, I fear the mercury is still sinking. I
saw your former flame at Devonshire House looking
very well, but no Ossulston. ... It is a great con-
solation that your women are pretty. As for their
expecting you to be enamoured at the first glance it
is no objection, provided they comply equally soon;
Whittington desires to be remembered. The tooth
of a Mammoth would highly gratify him. If you
meet with the seeds of plants which are very rare in
this country send me a few for a beautiful Dame
who has nothing but vulgar roses and lilies in her
cheeks. Write me, and believe me your most sin-
cere and faithful friend,
Aberdeen.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 20g
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, March 25, 1805.
. . . Dear Lord Aberdeen really seems quite
anxious (about the illness of Georgiana, Duchess of
Devonshire). He had been one of the few infidels
about the young Roscius, but he is, I hear, won over,
and acknowledges his merit. Mr. Crawford saw
him for the first time, and in Hamlet, the other night.
He said that he expected to be disappointed, having
heard so much and remembering Garrick so per-
fectly, but that he was astonished and delighted, and
that in many parts he thought him not even inferior
to Garrick.1 There never certainly was so extraor-
dinary a being, and the more one thinks of it the
more extraordinary it appears. Sir Walter2 and Dr.
Blane3 have just been here. The Duchess is really
better, but yet they think there must be more pain,
but not so bad as before — at least I am willing to
think not. They had a budget of news. Lord
Chatham has the government of Plymouth vacant
by the death of Lord Lennox; that the Russians
will certainly co-operate with us and send 100,000
men into the field, and that Sir S. Craig is to com-
mand the expedition: he is first to take Minorca,
and then proceed to Malta to combine where to
meet the Russians and their future operations. Of
1 Garrick— David Garrick; Pope said of him after seeing him act in Richard II.,
"That young man never had his equal as an actor, and will never have a rival"
(1716-1779).
2 Sir Walter— Six Walter Farquhar, the physician mentioned previously.
3Dr. Blane— Afterwards Sir Gilbert Blane, a celebrated physician (1749-1834).
0
2IO THE TWO DUCHESSES.
all the Convoy, it is now known that the French
took three ships, and allowing to the bravery of the
Arrow sloop and Acheron brig. . . .
March 28.
The publick go on being delighted with young
Roscius, Parliament discussing the Militia, the papers
are dwelling on the tenth report, and Buonaparte is
adding more crowns to his Imperial Diadem. It is
a fortnight, I believe, since I have stirred from
home, so I can only give you outlines of news. A
poem1 has just appeared of Walter Scott's, which is
said to be good, but till I hear a little more of it I
shall not send it as it is very long.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To A ugustus Foster.
April 5, 1805.
The fifth representation of Hamlet has filled the
house more than I have yet seen it. I never saw
him act so well as to-night, and Lord Aberdeen was
quite delighted with him, of course, you know that
I mean Roscius. ... I am afraid Lord Aberdeen
is vexed about Lord Melville.2 I send you the
paper with his letter. The tenth report2 is as yet
too large, but when the extract or abridgement comes
out I will send it you. Lord Suffolk chose to move
'poem — The Lay of the Last Minstrel.
* Melville~-Ylenry Dundas, Viscount Melville, long prominent in the political
world. He was impeached for crimes and misdemeanours committed while acting
as treasurer of the navy, but was acquitted. The ' ' tenth report " refers to the pro-
ceedings in regard to this trial (1740-1811).
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 211
in the House to-night for the authentic letter, the
one which has been published in the papers being,
he said, a forgery, as it criminated Lord M. more
than he was before it. Some think it clears him at
least from having speculated for himself.
News is come of the French attack on Dominica.
The Toulon fleet was said to have passed the straits
of Gibraltar in order to join the Rochefort squadron
in the West Indies, but some reports say that it is
gone back. The present moment is not a bright one
for Ministers. They are in need of some coup d'etat
to help them on. One of the rumours of the day is
that Lord Wellesley1 has declared himself Sovereign
of India; then he and Holkar2 may fight it out.
Your friend Lord A.3 braves the Duchess of Gordon,4
and flirts with Harriet5 more than ever. I admire
his spirit, but I am sorry the papers have got hold
of it, and amiable and delightful as he is, he would
not be a good match for her. Lord Tankerville6 has
not relented, and I have no guess how that will end.
. . . Speaking of Jerome "yet he has in general
conducted himself in company modestly and unas-
suming", it should be either modestly and unassum-
1 Lord Wellesley — The Marquis Wellesley, the famous governor-general of India,
and eldest brother of the Duke of Wellington. He returned from India in 1805,
having been about eight years there (1760-1842).
2 Holkar — Jeswunt Rao Holkar, Maratta ruler of Indore, who gave much trouble
to the British, and gained a. rather important victory over the Colonel Monson
mentioned here.
^your friend Lord A. — Lord Aberdeen.
* The Duchess of Gordon — She probably wished him to marry a daughter of her
own. The Duchess— Jane Maxwell — was famous as a successful match-maker, and
was in several ways somewhat notorious.
5 Harriet — Lady Harriet Cavendish, daughter of the fifth Duke of Devonshire.
6 Lord Tankerville — He appears to have been against the marriage of his son
Lord Ossulston with the Corisande several times referred to in the correspondence,
but the marrriage took place.
212 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
ingly, or in company he is modest and unassumi
These are only little inaccuracies and inelegan
which you require to avoid, by having the habit
writing correctly at all times, and this would prev
your having even any trouble in avoiding them, i
as you seem to have acquired a love and habit
study and application, do, my dearest child, put t
time to profit in every way, and the very dulln
you naturally complain of will then turn to yi
advantage — set doggedly to, as Johnson called
not only to translate Cicero, but to transcribe Li
Chesterfield. Transcribing forms the style as tra
lating does the judgment and taste. If you acqu
a habit of correct and elegant writing now it is dc
for life; your style is natural and agreeable; i
construction of your phrases is all that requi
attending to; whatever is simplest is best, but tr
the grammatical part should be pure and correct
the utmost. You must forgive these criticisms, 1
consequence of materno affetto which is watchi
over you most anxiously. Let me know where y
are likely to go in the spring that I may follow y
on the map. You will hear of the reverses in Inc
and the shocking fate of Colonel Monson's detai
ment. Lord Cornwallis1 is going to give peace, a
hope, to that desolated country; would the oli
branch could be extended over Europe. . . .
1Lord Cornwallis — He was appointed, in 1804, governor-general of Indi;
succession to the Marquis Wellesley, but died in 1805.
FROM THE EARL OF ABERDEEN. 213
The Earl of Aberdeen
To Augustus Foster.
Watier's Club, April 6, 1805.
My dear Augustus, — I heard of you lately from
Lady Elizabeth, and am sorry that you continue to
dislike the Metropolitan residence of Washington,
although in one respect it should give me pleasure,
as it will lessen the impediments to your return.
There is nothing of great consequence. I am not
sanguine about Russia, but combined expeditions
are talked of, and we have already despatched some
thousand men. The most atrocious virulence which
ever disgraced a party has been exerted against
Lord Melville, but he will ultimately triumph —
Magna est Veritas et praevalebit. The Duchess, you
will have heard, has been very ill, but is now much
recovered. Your old flame1 is still in statu quo,
although Lord Tankerville, I understand, now con-
sents. I think Grantham is very far gone with Miss
Pole, who is certainly the prettiest girl in London.
Au reste there have been produced but few beauties
this spring. Lady Charlotte Gower will be pretty;
there are two Lady Fitzgeralds greatly celebrated,
but without much reason. . . . Aberdeen.
1 Corisande de Gramont.
214 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, April 10, 1805
. . . I finished the last letter on Monday tl
8th. That eventful day!1 we received in the cour
of the evening several notes from the House
Commons saying that the opinion of the Hou
seemed to go very much with them (opposition) ai
that Pitt had spoke without one solitary cheer,
thing, I suppose, unknown to him before. Lo
Henry Petty spoke admirably, and Lord John wrc
us word that he thought that they would divide 17
a strong division for opposition. Mr. Pitt w
keeping his friends together saying that the ne
question he should have to carry was so and s
whatever it was I forget it now. The question w
called for before five; a great and awful silen
ensued. The Speaker rose and said that the motii
for a secret committee had appeared to him to be
fair and equitable measure, but that the charge whi
had been brought before him was so strong he mu
according to his conscience, give his vote for t
question. The ayes have it. They had divid
equally, and he gave the casting vote. He was p;
as ashes, and you might have heard a pin drop; it
an event that occupies every creature. The Hou
1 That eventful day — Eventful in the proceedings against Lord Melville.
Whitbread moved certain resolutions censuring the conduct of Lord M.;
moved the previous question ; and the votes being equal the Speaker (Mr. Abl
afterwards Lord Colchester) gave his casting vote in favour of Mr. Whitbre;
motion. Lord M. at once resigned the post of First Lord of the Admiralty,
his name was erased from the list of members of the Privy Council, but L
Aberdeen's confidence in his ultimate triumph was not misplaced.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER.
sat again to-day. I saw my sister in the
she was extremely low. I told her what'
feel, that I was nervous and agitated, and that I
believed whoever knew Lord Melville felt concern
and regard, and I for my own part feel a disbelief
that he would have profited by the peculation, how-
ever wrong it was to pass it over in another so
lightly. She said certainly it was very wrong, but
that she hoped nothing more would be done, as the
national justice might now be satisfied. I saw her
and Mr. Grey to-day, but I don't know what they
mean to do. Only think of Lord Melville being
obliged to have a great dinner on the next day.
How I do feel for them. Lady Hawkesbury said
they got through it pretty well.
Night.
Mr. Whitbread's motion, you will see, he consented
to withdraw, and only moved that the resolutions
should be carried up to the King to-morrow. This
Pitt agreed to. The debate was animated. Mr.
Grey, Duncannon, and Lord Ossulston supped with
us afterwards. Mr. Grey said that Canning's had
been the most intemperate attack upon him and
very unexpected, as lately there had been much
intercourse between them of a very friendly kind,
and certainly what he advanced had nothing to do
with the present case. The temper of the House
was milder. Wilberforce said that as the national
justice was satisfied he wished the question not to be
pressed further. Fox's was very brilliant and very
severe. How sorry I am for Lord Aberdeen; he
2l6 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
will feel this, I am sure, deeply. Lord Melville wa
so kind to him, and he has so much heart. Th
impression is beyond the giving you an idea of.
Chiswick, April.
Lord Aberdeen called on me to-day. On takini
my hand, I felt his as cold as marble; he thre^
himself on a chair and said what miserable sa'
things have passed since I saw you. It made me s
nervous I could hardly speak, but I told him that
could not express to him how much I felt for Lon
Melville; that those who, like me, had seen hir
in his private life must feel a regard and affectioi
for him that nothing could alter; and I owned als<
that I felt a disbelief that he ever enriched himsell
though I own I thought opposition right in doini
what they had done. Oh! good God, yes, he said
he was condemned on his own confession of breac
of an Act of Parliament and allowing Trotter1 t
speculate with the publick money; it was right, i
was necessary he should go out and that there shoul
be this censure. I should not have mentioned thi;
but I cannot, cannot bear that a suspicion shoul
rest on anybody's mind that he could enrich himsel
Those who knew him will not believe he did.
said I hoped it might be proved, but thought Pitt'
speech had been a weak one. He said he wa
frightened for the first time in his life; dismay an
horror were in his looks, he never raised his eye
from the ground, and next day when he called o
Lord Melville he was some time without uttering
1 Trotter — Paymaster of the navy under Lord Melville.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 217
I asked him how Lord Melville bore it; he said
well; that he reproached them for their melancholy
countenances, and said it looked as if they thought
him guilty; indiscreet he had been, but he had
not been more. I do assure you, dear Augustus,
I was nervous and agitated to a great degree. I
felt for him as his and as your friend, and I am
sorry for Lord Melville; it is the deathblow to his
greatness. He falls, as Wolsey did, never to rise
again, and like him with too much of former power
and with some great and good qualities. The im-
pression on the public mind is beyond all belief; it
occupies everybody and all day long; it is a fearful
example of the vicissitude of human prosperity. He
was a man who had a real pleasure in obliging and
in doing a kind thing. I hear that he will be re-
gretted in the navy, where every thing went on well
and with kindness to the officers and men. Adieu,
my dearest Augustus. As this is a chance letter, I
will say no more now. I asked Lord Aberdeen to
find out for me if they would like to receive me as
they are going to Wimbledon, and I would drive
there from here, though it would be a nervous visit.
Adieu, adieu. I never remember a question in
which I thought opposition right would give me so
much pain.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, April 22, 1805.
Lord Aberdeen dined here yesterday, and was
introduced to the Duke, who I heard liked him very
2l8 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
much. I had a wretched sick headache from cryir
at the play of Zara, in which Roscius in the last A
outdid himself, and I was so undone by it I cou
not leave my room, but Caro told me it all went c
very well : he was shy, to be sure, and during dinn
did not, I am told, talk much, but that is no fau
young as he is, and after dinner he was at his eas
and Caro, Harriet, Georgiana, and he had a gre
deal of conversation, and you know how good h
conversation is. Mr. Bennet dined here, and tl
Duchess wanted Lord A. to sleep here, but he w;
going on to Wimbledon: his feeling, yet candou
about all that business of Lord Melville, is mo
amiable. He told me that it was going on rath
better, and that Trotter now was willing to make i
affidavit that Lord Melville had no share.
The Duke has been to the Installation. It was
very magnificent sight, and it all went off very we
Nothing extraordinary in the King's behaviour e:
cept wearing the most wonderful wig ever seen, ar
which attracted every body's notice as soon as 1
appeared. . . . Next day the Prince and Dul
of Clarence1 dined at Chiswick. Pitt is to anticipa
the motions which opposition meant to bring forwar
and moves for continuing the naval commission ar
instituting inquiries into the war department. S
Charles Middleton is to be First Lord of the A'
miralty, but he is supposed to be a creature of L01
Melville.
^■Duke of Clarence — Afterwards King William IV. (1765-1837).
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 219
27th.
Lord Aberdeen, Ossulston, Lord H. Petty, W.
Lamb, and Lord Brook supped here after the Opera.
The news of the day, and this Lord R. Spencer had
told me before dinner, is that Addington and Lord
Buckinghamshire have resigned. I asked Lord
Henry P., and he said he believed it was certain,
and on the grounds that Pitt required a support of
Lord Melville which Addington could not conscien-
tiously give. Lord Aberdeen told me that some con-
dition for favouring Lord St. Vincent had not been
complied with, and that he imagined that they cer-
tainly would go out, for their conversation, he says,
does not agree with the votes they give, nor were
those votes of all their friends. It excites some
curiosity, as you may believe.
2%th.
All this morning the resignation appeared certain,
but Pitt was known to have gone to Richmond
(where Addington lives), and conferences of various
kinds were held. Four of the Cabinet Ministers
were sent for from the Academy dinner yesterday to
attend a Cabinet Council, and about six to-day it was
known that a reconciliation had been effected. Has
Pitt or Addington yielded? Will Sir C. Middleton
remain First Lord of the Admiralty? Voila ce qu'il
faut resoudre et qui sera probablement connu demain.
Meanwhile more letters are come from America and
none from you, but Lady Hawkesbury tells me such
a panegyric of you as gave her the greatest satis-
faction. I long to read the letter.
220 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
May 2nd.
You will see by the papers all the rumours of th
French fleet and of ours. Dieu sait ce qui sera d
nous, but if the French can get out when they choos
why should our blockading system continue whic
so fatigues ships and men. . . . The Duke and a
of us are going to see young Roscius to-night in th
character of Richard the Third. It is a bold undei
taking, but his Genius justifies his daring. God bles
you, my dear child, and may you soon quit those in
hospitable climes you are in, though I hear that evei
the Americans are delighted with you, and wonde
we don't always send our young men of fashion ther
rather than to France or Italy.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, May 21, 1805.
. . . Since my last letter there was anothe
question lost by Ministers, and the motion for taking
Lord Melville's name out of the list of Privy Coun
cillors was carried. Indeed Pitt announced that h<
gave way, and had advised the King to do so.
hope there will be no need of any thing further. H<
is obliged to sell his house in town, to let Wimbledon
and is going somewhere to the sea side with her
It is a most melancholy vicissitude, and I do fee
for him to my heart. Lord Aberdeen comes hen
to-night. There is a little dance after the Opera. ]
know not why, but we have not seen so much o
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 221
him lately, which I regret very much, and am afraid
there are plots to keep him away. The day before
yesterday Madame Jerome Bonaparte landed at
Dover. She had been to Lisbon, and not allowed
to land there. I hear she then went to Holland, and
orders were sent there not to receive her, and at last
the ship put into the Downs, and orders were sent
for her landing and every attention to be paid her,
though I heard Lord Hawkesbury say he should not
allow any of the men to land, but I hope that this is
not so, as I see by the papers that her brother and a
physician are on board with her. What a strange
fate hers seems to be. I should like to see her, but
I am afraid they won't let her come to London,
which seems to me very extraordinary. I should
like to talk to her of you, and I feel inclined to like
her from what you said of her and from her unhappy
situation. He is supposed to be gone on to Madrid.
As to publick affairs, the combined fleets1 are said
certainly to be out of Cadiz, and Lord Nelson cer-
tainly to have passed the straits and to be coming
homewards. Whether this means that the enemy
intend a great junction of all their fleets to make an
attack on Ireland, or that some are gone to make a
great attack on Jamaica, nobody seems able to guess,
but there is a look of anxiety amongst Ministers
which gives an idea of alarm, and the total want of
information of where the combined fleets are gone
adds to that apprehension. However, with Lord
Nelson near us, I think we need not fear our own
shores, but think what a blow Jamaica would be to
1 The combined fleets — French and Spanish.
222 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Charles Ellis, and indeed to hundreds of others — m;
speriamo. ... Of private news already I havi
told you that Caroline Ponsonby1 is to be married t<
William Lamb, now an elder brother. It is to b<
next week, and Lord Cowper's marriage is declarec
with Emily Lamb, and they are all to be here to
night. These are certainly two as pretty marriage
as possible. The Melbournes, as the Queen good
naturedly said, wanted this consolation after thei:
trying misfortunes, and they are very happy with it.
l%th.
Madame Jerome is come to London. I wish \
knew how to get acquainted with her. We are al
very much occupied at present with the story of ar
American lady, a Mrs. Randolph, who is daughter tc
English parents, their birth and fortune considerable
They changed their name on going from Englanc
to America. She was daughter to a Duchess anc
married an Earl's second son, and this third daughtei
married a Mr. Randolph. The estate in Virginia, 1
think, was disputed ; they lost it, and the lawsuit cos
a great sum, and they were ruined. The yellow
fever carried all off but this young woman, to whorc
on dying her mother revealed her family name, bu
made her promise never to reveal it. She came tc
England, as she supposed, to a friend of her mother
and on her landing read her death in the papers
She wandered about till, fainting through want, sh(
knocked at the door of Mr. Mansbridge to ask hin
a permission for the parish infirmary. Her appear
1 Caroline Ponsonby — See Appendix (d. 1828).
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 223
ance and story strongly interested him, and Mr.
Trumbull of America was with him. He promised
to inquire about her, and has written from America
that all she has told is true. I wish you, too, would
inquire about her family. They lived chiefly, I think,
in Virginia and Philadelphia, and were well known
and in great consideration. I never heard a more
melancholy story, and Mrs. Randolph is a widow of
one and twenty.
June 2.
I have seen Mr. Trumbull's letters, which mention
Mrs. Randolph as being known to several persons
and very much respected by them, but the mystery
is not yet cleared, though, by circulating the paper
which gives an account of her, they hope some of
her father or mother's family may claim her.
Caroline Ponsonby is to be married to-morrow;
she looks prettier than ever I saw her. Sometimes
she is very nervous, but in general she appears to be
very happy. W. Lamb seems quite devoted to her.
They supped here last night, and she received her
presents and gave some. Lord Morpeth gave her
a beautiful acqua marina clasp. I gave her a little
pearl cross with a small diamond in the middle.
Caroline gives a hair bracelet with amethyst clasp.
Lord Melbourne gave her a beautiful set of ame-
thysts, and Lady M. a diamond wreath. The Duke
of Devonshire gives her her wedding gown, and the
Duchess a beautiful veil. Harriet gives a beautifull
burnt topaz cross, and then, &c. &c. What a com-
fort to have her so near, and yet what a trial to poor
Lady Bessborough.
224 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
June z,tk
The marriage was on the 3d at half after seven
8 in the evening. We went to Cavendish Squa:
and besides the Devonshire House party were or
the Melbournes, Morpeths, Fitzwilliams, Lord Spe
cer, Lady Sara and Lord Althorpe, Lord Cowper
trustee, and your brother by Caroline's own invitatic
They set out about nine; she was dreadfully nervoi
but his manner to her was beautifull, so tender ai
considerate. There was a great crowd assemble
and the favours looked very gay and pretty. Th
went to Brocket Hall,1 and will stay there, I belie\
about a fortnight. The Melbournes fit up the midc
apartment at Whitehall for them. As to poor Cori
all goes on the same. She looks thin and ill, I thin
He has no money to marry, and his father is obstina
The family praise her very much. . . .
The only news here is that Lord Melville is
appear at the bar of the House of Commons ai
make a speech in his own defence. Probably tl
will save him from being impeached. Yesterd
dispatches were received from Nelson, and he w
pursuing the combined fleet, yet very unlikely is
that he should meet with it; great movements a
seen in all the fleets nearer home, but invasion
scarcely now believed in. . . .
Lord Aberdeen is, I am afraid, in a grand flirtati*
with Lady Catherine Hamilton. They make hi
great advances, and a person here whom I h
hoped he liked or seemed inclined to like is fr
proud to seem to care if not certain of being pi
^Brocket Hall— The country seat of Lord Melbourne in Hertfordshire.
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 225
ferred, so the others have champ libre, and as it is a
connection as to Politicks that his friends would like
I dare say it will do, but he is too good for them; I
don't say for her, for she is pretty and, I believe,
amiable, but I am very sorry for her. I think him
delightful, and I am sure he likes the society here.
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Washington, June 2, 1805.
Aberdeen's plan of going abroad I was
always afraid would be only a bubble, though I think
the Russian scheme would have suited him very well.
I am sorry for this affair of Lord Melville's. He
would have held out a very good ladder for Aber-
deen in politics. Now he has only got Mr. Pitt, but
he, you will say, is everything. So Roscius, a boy
of 13, has changed your hours and manner of living
in London, brought you down to plain country five
o'clock. Can any of the bishops say as much, I
pray? but this is the age of wonders. Lord Hawkes-
bury, Lord of the Admiralty, or what you please, sir.
Is it strange or not that he should thus be hopping
about all the stepping-stones of the Administration?
The Secretaries here are astonished that he should
have such variegated talents, but I tell them that
with us every Minister of State must be thoroughly
acquainted with our whole system, and it is very
true. Here none of the men in office at all are
allowed a seat, and therefore are not obliged to know
226 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
everything. . . . It is an absolute sepulchre th
hole. I am going next week to the Falls of Potom;
at Harper's Ferry, and to Philadelphia the wee
after. The season has been delightful here, an
when these degenerate sons of our ancestors arriv
at a little taste this situation will be one of the fine;
in America. Mrs. Merry is now recovering fast: sr
suffers more than I can describe from this countr
The women here are in general a spying, inquisitivi
vulgar, and most ignorant race, and yet as cen
monious as ambassadresses. Even you with a
your resources and powers of self-amusement woul
absolutely be puzzled here. You can bear man
things, but you cannot bear vulgarity. . . .
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Washington, June 30, 1805.
I made a little excursion to Harper'
Ferry where the Shenandoagh and Potomack joi
and rush through the mountains, if mountains the
can be called. The country is very woody, but ha
more cultivated spots than I expected to find. Popu
lation does not increase, however, very rapidly i:
this part of the United States. The acquisition
which these absorbers of land are perpetually making
have thrown open such an extensive field for specu
lation that the farmers absolutely wanton in th
excess of it. An Irishman, when he first lands
without speaking a word of English, which few wh
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 227
come here can, makes signs with his spade in his
hand that he wants work, and obtains a dollar a day,
or 45. 6d. With such high wages he soon is enabled
to buy a little land, and when he has got rich upon
that he tires of it and removes some miles farther to
a better soil, and so goes on gradually to the Missis-
sippi. This is the process that the settlers of every
nation go through except the Germans, who plant
themselves at once, and there they stick, good or
bad. They tug away jog trot at the soil till they die,
when their sons march off to the towns or to the
back country. With such a rambling disposition you
will easily conceive that they can't have much attach-
ment to home. In fact, you nowhere find the rustic
simplicity which pleases so much and is everywhere
else found in the world. There are no natural
manners, no peculiarities that mark the country.
You are always among the inhabitants of towns,
though you strike upon a Log House in the most
distant woods, and as the houses are of such perish-
able materials there is nowhere any building to mark
long residence. Anywhere but in America I could
bear, I think, seclusion, but I cannot bear to be
eternally among knowing people, and what is worse,
too, there is no spot so retired among these "regener-
ated races ", as they are called, where you don't find
drunkenness. I always have Mr. Fox in my mind
when I think of the United States. I know that he
has a strong prejudice in favor of this country, but I
should like to know whether it is not confined merely
to the theory of the Constitution which they possess.
That I think excellent, but they surely have become
228 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
independent too soon for their own happiness. The
strongest Party in this country is now making violent
efforts to change that Constitution, as I believe I
told you, by limiting the influence of the Senate and
making the judges more dependent. The possibility
of a division is even openly talked of in the public
papers, and recriminations are exchanged between
the Eastern and the Southern States; in short, they
seem ripe for dissension. Of all the members, about
130 Representatives and 34 Senators assembled
here last winter, there really was not a single one
that we should look up to as a man of great talent
in England, nor is it to be expected that there
should, as they most of them exercise two or three
professions besides, and are almost all speculators;
however, there were some very worthy men, and no
doubt of great integrity. It is really too great a
sacrifice of the best years of life to remain long here.
If the Congress met at Philadelphia one might em-
ploy one's time, but here there is absolutely nothing,
not even books, to be had. I shall forget almost
how to be cheerful in this sink of imagination; how-
ever, it will certainly be an interesting country to us
at no very distant period, and, therefore, well worth
the visit. In a week we go to Philadelphia. The
French Minister and his wife have been exposing
themselves shamefully here by their domestic quarrels.
He, it seems, is of the true Jacobin, Godless and
licentious cast, and she, it is said, forced herself into
where he was assisting at dancing in his own house
of not the most reputable ladies, when he beat her
most unmercifully and forced her to fly the house.
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 229
tie has been abusing him from house to house
;re, even his valet told her that she was a Canaille;
short, they are in complete disgrace with the
mericans, and she is to be shipped off for France,
believe. I don't know whether I have asked of
)u already to send me over the newest Country
'ances and Cotillon music, which is what they
mce most here. . .
Augustus Foster
To Frederick Foster.
Washington, July 1, 1805.
I don't know whether I have yet
ansmitted to you an account of the installation of
le successor of Montezuma1 in last March. On the
:h he proceeded on horseback from the Palace,
hich is of white stone, and the largest building here,
id, attended by his secretary and groom, rode up
ie long Avenue of Pennsylvania to the Capitol,
hich is an unfinished rival in stone of the Roman
jilding of that name, and dressed in black and silk
ockings, delivered a speech of some length, which
xi have, to a mixed assemblage of Senators, Popu-
ce, Representatives, and ladies. It was too low
>oken to be heard well; he then kissed the book
id swore before the Chief Justice to be faithful to
e Constitution, then bowed and retired as before,
hen he received levee at which all who chose
tended, and even towards the close blacks and
The successor of Montezuma — Meaning Thomas Jefferson, President of the
dted States, who had now entered on his second term of office (1743-1826).
230 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
dirty boys, who drank his wines and lolled upon his
couches before us all; the jingling of a few pipes and
drums finished the day. There was nothing digni-
fied in the whole affair. He is about 65 years old,
and affects great plainness of dress and manners.
Au reste he is a philosopher of the politico specula-
tive kind. Unbounded freedom reigns in this un-
bounded land, and the shameless abuse and [torn.V.F.]
in their papers is not at all creditable to the country.
I thank you and Duncannon for your exertions
about a curricle. I shall wait its arrival with im-
patience, though the roads are so execrable and the
streets worse that I dare say I shall not be able to
use it much, particularly as I have not served an
apprenticeship of driving in England.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, July 13, 1805.
. . . I have this moment received your letter,
my dear, dear Augustus, of June 2nd, just two days
before our hero of the Nile arrived at Barbadoes to
liberate the West Indies. . . . Lord Aberdeen
was wretched during all the business about Lord Mel-
ville. He is in Scotland preparing for his marriage
with Lady Catherine Hamilton.1 Never were father
and son-in-law so different surely as these two are.
Mr. Bennet is miserable at the marriage, and thinks
he will be lost to all his friends by it. Lord Ennis-
1Lady Catherine Hamilton— -Daughter of the first Marquis of Abercorn (d. 1812).
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 23 1
killen marries Lady Charlotte Paget, and Lord
Grantham Lady Harriet Cole. I suppose letters
and papers enough will reach you to tell you that
the impeachment was carried, and that Lord Melville
will be impeached the opening of next Sessions.
Lord Sidmouth1 resigned a week ago. Pitt has
patched up his present administration amongst his
own people; no new person is added. The rumour
of the day is that he had again spoke to the King
about Fox; that the King's objections were done
away; that this was to lead to a grand union as
proposed last year, and that either active war would
be carried on, with Russia to help us, or a grand
Congress at which Fox would be Ambassador in his
character of Secretary of State.
Georgiana is recovered from her fourth
lying in, and is well except a cold. Harriet and
Caro have their flirtations, and are in extreme good
looks. Corise, to whom I shall tell the interest you
take in her happiness, is quite satisfied with his
conduct; he seems more attached to her than ever,
and only wants to borrow a small sum of money to
marry her directly. He says Lord Tankerville
continues inflexible, but Lady T. expressed great
interest about her.
Emily Lamb is to be married next Satur-
day to Lord Cowper, Caroline and Corise brides-
maids.
I don't wonder the Americans were surprised at
1 Lord Sidmouth — Formerly known as Henry Addington, Prime Minister from
1801 to 1803 (1757-1844).
232 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
the projected changes; however, Lord Hawkesbury
has remained as he was, and Sir C. Middleton was
made Lord Barham. He is eighty, so he brings the
weight of experience. We were in great joy at
hearing of Nelson's arrival in the West Indies, and
now all is despondency again because he has not
overtaken and beat the French and Spaniards, but
he drove them away. . . .
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Washington, Julv 30, 1805.
I cannot fancy Lady Caroline married. I cannot
be glad of it. How changed she must be — the
delicate Ariel, the little Fairy Queen become a wife
and soon perhaps a mother. I had just finished
a letter to her as Lady Caroline Ponsonby yester-
day in answer to her pretty one of March. I
cannot tear it, and so pray do not betray my
secret, and let it pass as if I knew nothing in this
remote country of her marriage; as it is not a love
letter it may go, and if I don't answer so I never
can to her now she is under the laws of a Man.
It is the first death of a woman. They must die
twice, for I am sure all their friends, their male ones
at least, receive a pang when they change character
so completely. I inclose it under cover to you, as
well as one to Caroline, and what you tell me about
Aberdeen distresses me. Surely they can't have
worked on his feelings about Lord Melville to keep
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 233
him from Devonshire House. I am grieved at his
only having received one letter from me. I have
written to him so often. He is very young, but he has
shewn some character with regard to the Duchess of
Gordon. I only hope in you. Keep him to Devon-
shire House, where I pride myself on having intro-
duced him, and he will do. It is dreadful to be so
distant. Aberdeen appears to me to be of that class
of persons that are made to be an honor to their
country. Who can you mean at Devonshire House
that you thought he loved? Was it Caro or was
it Lady Harriet? Only get him to be in love with
one of them. I shall write to him by this post, but
God knows whether the letter will ever arrive. I
am sick of the distance.
I shall inquire about Mrs. Randolph, though I am
sure from what I have read that she is an impostor.
Believe me, there are not more consummate rascals
anywhere than in the United States. I see it more
and more, and novel species of villanies in this
country. The scum of every nation on earth is the
active population here.
August 4th.
I have inquired of Colonel Washington, nephew
of the General, of one of the oldest families in Vir-
ginia, and he knows nothing of such a lady — but
however I will inquire further. The hand of God
being introduced by Mr. Mansbridge looks rather
canting. Now that I have thought upon the matter,
perhaps it might be wrong to send the letter to
Lady Car, but I send it under flying seal, so that
234 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
you may or not, only if you do I am supposed to
know nothing of the marriage. She is so amiable
that I should like to answer her letter to keep up the
acquaintance which would otherwise be quite dead
through the distance. Would you choose for me a
fur Pelisse to be made up at Schweitzer's? The
winters here are much colder than those in England,
and I want to teach these creatures to wear some-
thing like dress of human beings. Is it possible
that Aberdeen should be in love at Lady Abercorn's ?
but you did not, as well as I recollect, think him a
good match for Lady Harriet. Who is Caroline
inclined to favor? As for me, a young girl, a
phenomenon for this country, has just died of a
consumption whom I certainly should have admired
prodigiously. She said on her death bed that she
thought the lower part of my face extremely amiable,
but in the forehead something rather too stern. I tell
you all the nonsense in the world, because I always
have and shall always consider you as my sister. She
could not bear the society of this place though she
had never been to Europe. . . . Madame Jerome
was supposed to be likely to add to the race of
the Gallic Caesars when she left America, so that I
suppose you will not see her soon. Her father came
over here from Ireland, as Mr. Pichon, the former
French Charge d'Affaires declared, as a Redemp-
tioner, that is a person who sells his services for a
certain period to pay for his passage from Europe,
and he became an hostler. He is now, however,
universally respected as a merchant, and is one of
their most honoured dealers in Baltimore. She
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 235
declared three days before Jerome was won that she
would have him. It was veni, vidi, vici. These
words resemble our dear Italian so much that I
won't insult you with a translation. . . .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, August 5, 1805.
. We are at present all impatience and
expectation and some anxiety about the fleet.
Nelson, by the terror of his name, seems to have
driven the enemy from the West Indies, and to be
pursuing them home. Clifford1 wrote to me the 12th
of May from St. Vincent; the 4th of June from
Barbadoes; on the 12th, after having visited six
islands, they weighed anchor again, and on the 19th
he ended his letter saying they were in full pursuit
and hope to be at Cape St. Vincent before them,
and perhaps even to come up to the enemy before
that. What a wonderful man Nelson is! How
rapid and well combined are his operations. On
the 2 1 st the combined fleet was seen off Ferrol, and
Sir R. Calder2 attacked them and captured two of
the Spanish ships; he kept in sight of them four
days and then they disappeared, and he on the 31st
resumed his station off Ferrol, so that they are not
got into port, and perhaps that Nelson may yet meet
with them. Every day, every hour, they expect to
1 CHJbrd — Augustus C, created a baronet in 1838 (1788-1877).
8 Calder— Admiral Sir Robert C, created a baronet in 1798 (1745-1818).
236 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
hear from him, and the impatience and anxiety is
beyond all expression. On the other hand, the
public are dissatisfied with Calder for not doing
more; yet with 15 ships he attacked the combined
fleet of twenty and defeated them. Fog and night
came on which prevented his continuing the battle
then, and they contrived to escape two days after.
It is these two days that the public are dissatisfied
with the loss of, and say that a Nelson would not
have rested so. They also blame Admiral Corn-
wallis for not doing something on his part; yet all
this may be accounted for satisfactorily, and it is
hard to blame an officer who has defeated the enemy
and to condemn him unheard, As to home politicks,
the impeachment,1 as I told you, is decided on, and
will come on early in the present Sessions. Lord
Melville is gone or going to Scotland, and Lord and
Lady Aberdeen are now at Wimbledon, which he
has, I believe, hired of Lord Melville to put a few
hundred pounds into his pocket. Lady Melville is
going to the seaside and to Bath. What a melan-
choly ending to such a career. The rumours are
stronger than ever of a grand junction, and the King
has spoke in the handsomest manner of ( ? ), and
is said to have taken a dislike to Addington. Mr.
Pitt is reported to be again very eager for a union
with Fox and the principal people of his party.
The Duke of Devonshire said here the other day
that he thought it would be the best thing for this
country that could happen, and we could not help
remarking what a glorious triumph it is to Fox's
1 The impeachment — of Lord Melville.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 237
talents and character after all the odium so long
endeavoured to be thrown upon him to have his
opponent express himself twice in so decided a
manner upon the necessity for the publick advantage
to have the aid of his councils and that he should be
of the Administration. It does Pitt honor also so
completely to forget all resentments and to acknow-
ledge this, and I think that if they ever joined it
would last. Two such minds once brought to act
together would not be in danger of quarrelling from
any petty jealousies and selfish views. They would
act for the good of the country on great and enlarged
views, and perhaps bestow on the age the greatest
of all blessings, that of a solid and lasting peace. . . .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
August 30, 1805.
• . . Several rumours have been and are abroad
about a junction of parties, and Pitt has, I believe,
certainly again told the King that he thought the ad-
mitting of Fox to the Cabinet essential to the welfare
of the Country. The King, it is said, spoke highly
in praise of Fox, and said the principal objections in
his mind were done away. There would be a great
difficulty now with several of our friends, for they
were so irritated by Pitt's conduct last time that
many are totally averse to Fox agreeing to any
junction. The King's eyes are rather better, but
some say that his health is not so good. The Duke
238 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
of Gloucester's death1 will affect him very much, as
the illness did. . . .
Nelson is, I hear, to have a great command: he
is delighted with his reception here, but says with
great modesty, " They have received me as if I had
done some great feat". And so God knows he
has. . . . The Brest fleet came out, but on
Cornwallis forming his line of battle and attacking
his foremost ships they retreated into their harbour
again. Calder is again pursuing the combined
squadrons. . . .
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Philadelphia, September 2, 1805.
. . . General Moreau arrived last week with
his family, and they are gone about 30 miles off to
Morrisville near Trenton, where he has hired a
country seat. I shall not see him probably unless
by accident, for in my public situation it would be
improper for me to call on him even with your letter.
. . Mr. and Mrs. Merry are bored to death
with these United States, but Merry is a man so
strictly en regie that I know he conceives it to be
his duty to stay here in time of war upon his post
at least longer than he should do in peace. You
have no idea of how miserable the state of society is
throughout and radically so, but yet you are to hear
1 Duke of Gloucester — brother of George III. (1743-1805).
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 239
their pretensions to manners and to national honor
and dignity and at the same time of their mean-
nesses, perpetual breach of faith, and perpetual lying.
Talleyrand, who travelled here, said of the country
that he did not like it because there was not a man
in it but would sell his favourite dog. ... I
am vexed at Aberdeen's marriage. It never will do.
He has a fine imagination, and she told me once
that she could not conceive how any body could find
a pleasure in reading poetry; besides, she does not
look wholesome, and is, I fancy, older than he is.
How odd of him to marry so young, and the con-
nection is not the most agreeable. . . .
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Elizabeth Town, New Jersey, Sept. 22, 1805.
Long Island is the part of all America
that I have seen which would make the most agree-
able residence in my opinion, and it is the only part
in which the people bow to you and seem to possess
simplicity. You see some of the old Dutch dresses
there still, and even some of the descendants of the
Tuscarora nation of Indians. I dined there with
Mr. King, whom I saw for the first time, and who
was Minister to England. On my return here, Lord
Bolingbroke,1 who lives a mile off under the name of
Mr. Bellasyse with the German lady his wife,2 now
declared so, and married over again to him since the
1 Lord Bolingbroke (1761-1824). 2 German lady— Baroness Hompesch.
240 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
death of Lady B., sent his carriage for me to a ball
which he gave on his departure for Niagara. He
has been here near ten years now, and as they say
means to return to England this year. She is any-
thing but handsome; a little square German with
broken teeth, but they say very amiable. Their
children are remarkably fine. He flatters himself
that he is not known here to be Lord Bolingbroke.
As he did not inquire after his friends in England I
did not say any thing about them to him, but I dine
with him to-day. He is disgusted, I believe, as
every man of education must be, with the manners
in general of the people of this country, which is so
made up of the ragamuffins and adventurers that
flock here from all parts of Europe, and particularly
the Irish. As no man is thrown out of society here
from the badness of his character, you sometimes
meet with the meanest and most worthless fellows in
free conversation and intimacy with perhaps very
respectable men, and I must say this that people
sometimes perhaps judge too harshly of the natives
from the foreign adventurers that they meet with.
. . . I would not come here as Minister to live
at Washington with ,£10,000 per annum, and if I
did I would not take — I was going to say my wife —
I would not take my sister for ,£20,000. A woman
of education and feeling suffers dreadfully. It is a
land for poor men, single men, I mean, and when
they get rich they should go to Europe to enjoy
it. . . .
FROM THE EARL OF ABERDEEN. 24I
The Earl of Aberdeen
To Augustus Foster.
Priory, Sept. 24, 1805.
My dear Augustus, . . . You must without
doubt have heard before this that I am married and
to Lady C. H.1 Repress your astonishment for
the present, and it may perhaps cease when we meet.
You may depend on the papers for the
truth of the coalition, which is now certain. I am
glad that Nelson had it in his power to shew your
peevish children in America that England, old as she
may be, is still pretty active; the spirits of your
friends in opposition cannot be very high. Mr.
Pitt is as firm as ever, and as the troubles on the
continent increase will be more so every day. Lord
Melville's impeachment will come on the beginning
of next Session, the result after all that we have
seen it would be vain to predict. ... By the
way, we are to be bored this year by that wretch
called the Young Roscius,2 who is the greatest im-
postor since the days of Mohammed. — Yours ever,
most affectionately, Aberdeen.
I say, Mr. Foster will say, that Aberdeen has not
slipped on the noose already, Yours, C. Aberdeen,
otherwise the amiable Lady C. H.
1 Lady C. H. — Lady Catherine Hamilton (d. 1812).
a Young Roscius — William Betty (1791-1874). See Appendix.
242 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, Sept. 30, 1805.
. . . I think from your letter you will regret
Lord Aberdeen's fate being so early decided; how-
ever, she is very pretty and amiable, and seemed to
be very much in love with him, and I hope he will
be very happy. He deserves it. I never meant to
say that he would not be (taking him such as he is)
a good match for Harriet, but perhaps rather said so
the more from nervousness because I wished it, but
should have hated her marrying except from affec-
tion, or he either. The Abercorns never lost sight
of him. At first he certainly seemed to like Harriet,
but she will never show or feel a preference for any
body who is not decided in their liking for her; and
she did not indeed give herself time to know if she
would have liked him, for, the odious papers having
taken it up, she would scarcely speak to him. We
continued, however, seeing a good deal of him, and
we all liked him. You may retract all your sorrow
about Caro Ponsonby's marriage, for she is the
same wild, delicate, odd delightful person, unlike
every thing, witness her dating to Lady Maria Lane
her first letter of congratulation on her marriage
with her brother Duncannon from " Brocket Hall,
heaven knows what day ". Lady Maria is very
amiable, and Duncannon seems very happy. . . .
Pray don't marry an American, or, if you must, let
her be rich — for really the more I see of poverty the
more detestable it appears to me. . . . As to
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 243
politicks, I believe that Pitt is very happy at having
roused the continent, but it seems to me the deepest
game that ever people played. What Bonaparte
can mean by risking everything only to gain more
than he can want is inconceivable, and we too play
very deep. It is an awful moment, yet certainly the
war seems to begin with better prospect of success
than usual. Nelson is gone with a great command,
and is, I believe, by this time off Cadiz. Clifford
says he is happy enough to be with the in-shore
squadron, and that they see the enemy's fleet clearer
than their own. The combined fleet are 36 strong
and we 26, with which he says we are fully equal to
them, and with Nelson to the whole navy of France.
I wrote you an account of the disappointment occa-
sioned by Sir R. Calder. Every thing seems now
drawing to a crisis on the continent, and it makes
one tremble to think what events may happen before
this time twelvemonth. It is supposed Lord Hard-
wick will resign and Mr. Foster be reinstated. . . .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
October, 1805.
. . Every thing is, if possible, worse than
was reported. Bonaparte crossed the Rhine on the
1 st of October, and on the 17th was master of Ulm,
and of above thirty thousand men, besides baggage,
&c. The Austrian army is destroyed. For Heaven's
sake see Moreau. I can't conceive any thing so in-
244 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
teresting as his conversation would be at this moment.
Do not deny yourself the satisfaction of visiting a
great man in disgrace. . . . Lord Nelson is off
Cadiz with a great command. Could any thing be
done against the combined fleet, it would rouse the
spirits of the country, which are quite depressed. I
have seen nothing like the present moment. You
hear nothing else from the drawing-room to the
steward's room, in every street, and road, and lane;
as you walk you hear Bonaparte's name in every
mouth. Mr. James said he believed it was an event
unparalleled in history, and that it roused even him
who did not care for politicks. It is shocking, and
in the midst of it they intend sending the Duke of
York to command the expedition to Hanover. I
fear that Mr. Fox's words will prove too true, that
a tardy confederacy will enable Bonaparte to beat
his enemies one by one. I hope your new world is
more progressive than our old one. L' Europe est
bien vieille, Giambone used to say. We should
except the vigorous limb, France. . . .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, October 2<}th, 1805.
There is a great consternation to-day amongst all
people, I hear, in London. A fishing-boat put off
and when Sir Sydney took it it contained news that
Ulm1 was taken and the Austrian army annihilated,
1 Ulm. — In the Duchy of Wirtemberg. After a battle between the French and
Austrians, in which the latter under General Mack were defeated with dreadful
loss by Marshal Ney, Ulm surrendered with 28,000 men on October 20, 1805.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 245
General Mack1 and his staff made prisoners. It is
also said that Bonaparte will not even have the
King of Prussia as an enemy, that he will not join
the Confederacy. Our expedition is stopped by
contrary winds, and all is tardy on the part of the
Allies; all rapid like lightning on Bonaparte's.
My dearest, my opinion is that a man in disgrace
and in adversity is of no country, but entitled to
every attention that one can pay them, whether one
happens to be in a publick or a private character.
Therefore I wish you by all means to call on
Moreau. If, however, Mr. Merry has begged of
you not, then only send my letter with a civil note of
your own expressing your regret at being prevented
from profiting of the introduction it would have been
to you. Were we at peace with France it might be
wrong to visit an exiled general of hers, but how
can it be so being at war, and the exiled a man of
spotless character and oppressed? My opinion, I
own, is entirely for your visiting him unless, as I
said before, Mr. Merry wishes you not, and then
certainly you owe it to him, and particularly as he
has been very civil to you, to avoid any thing that
would distress him: but Ministers made no scruple
of visiting Pichegru2 here, and any objection there
could only arise on the part of Moreau, who might
scruple the more from his disgrace the receiving any
civility from the enemies of his country, but that
surely should be left to him. The subject came
1 General Mack— (1752-1829).
2 Pichegru — General P., gained great glory as one of the generals of the French
Republic, but afterwards sided with the Bourbons. He was transported to Cayenne,
but escaped and lived for some time in England (1761-1804).
246 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
naturally into my mind, because I remember when
Moreau talked to us of Bonaparte's talents as a
general, he said, " C'est la foudre; il frappe avant
qu'on puisse voir d'ou part le coup".
Nov. yd.
I have been interrupted — no news since the taking
of Ulm, and even of that no official accounts have
arrived; already do some doubt the fact; all believe
in some exaggeration; and it is now asserted that
the King of Prussia has sent six regiments into
Hanover to join the Russians. Lord Harrowby has
sailed on his embassy to Berlin ; how I should have
liked had you been with him. It is supposed that
the two Emperors and the Kings of Norway and
Sweden will all meet.
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Nov., 1805.
You must all of you in England be almost mad
with joy at the glorious victory of poor Lord Nelson.
What a drawback, however, is the loss of such a
man to us, who with his bare name could chase away
our enemies from one hemisphere to another! We
can hardly say in the words of Chevy Chase that we
have five hundred good as he, but I hope, however,
that we shall find several such still if occasions offer
for trying them.
In this country I think the majority are glad ot
the victory, but there are great many of those en-
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 247
gaged (?) in public situations who exaggerate upon
our loss, and consider it too dear a purchase. Peace
to all such! Those who know them care little for
their praise or blame. If you knew the meannesses,
the littlenesses of the nation which we are in Europe
pleased to call great and virtuous! My dearest Ma,
I do believe from my soul that from the Province of
Maine to the borders of Florida you would not find
30 men of Truth, Honour, or Integrity. Corruption,
Immorality, Irreligion, and, above all, self-interest,
have corroded the very pillars on which their Liberty
rests. Nothing is wanting but numbers and a Caesar
to change this boasting Republick into a despotism
of the worst description. They have inherited all
our faults without one of our virtues that I know of.
They are free more from the nature of their land
than from their laws which are not enforced. Were
the aristocracy of Venice to be placed in command
of America they could not rule otherwise than mildly,
for, should they exercise severities, the innumerable
rivers which offer navigation for thousands of miles
would open easy channels of escape, and of escape
to richer countries than they would leave. The
plains of Louisiana and of the Ohio will in a few
years exceed in population the States on the Atlantic.
Believe me, it is better to admire the theory at a
distance than to come and see the practice. It never
yet was said that the freer a people are the happier
they are. It is agreed on all sides that for the good
of society it is necessary that bounds should be set
to the liberty of individuals. Les Bornes que les
Americains y ont mises sont souvent franchies au lieu
248 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
que les notres, prises de plus haut, ne le sont im-
pun^ment jamais. Les assassins se promenent souvent
en plein jour faute de force dans les lois, but I am
quite tired with writing about them. I beg you will
let me know if there is any chance of escaping from
them in any reasonable time, and if you mean to
make peace in your hemisphere soon.
I have had a letter from Aberdeen announcing his
marriage. I hope sincerely he may never repent.
Ma temo temo ... As for me, were I in
London or any town but this, you would run great
risque of becoming belle mere. I am a little hard to
please, but should I find une personne a mon gout je
ne reponds plus de moi m£me je vous l'avoue. Je
me rappellerais toujours de la promesse sacree que
je vous ai donnee en partant de Londres, mais le
peril n'est pas grand ici ; hors l'attrait de la jeunesse
et quelque fraicheur: il n'y a guere d'autres dans les
filles de cette partie de lAmerique. . . .
The Earl of Aberdeen
To Augustus Foster.
Wimbledon, November 20, 1805.
My dear Augustus, — I have received yours of the
end of September from Philadelphia, inclosing a
specimen of the Jacobin print, which has amused
me much, but what vulgar ignorance the fellow
betrays; however, when such extreme license pre-
vails, you cannot fail occasionally to have many
speculations at least entertaining. I have written
FROM THE EARL OF ABERDEEN. 249
you before to say that I am married, and am now
the veriest Benedick of the age. I do not think I
shall ever have cause to repent this step. . . .
You have no idea of the effect which Nelson's
death has produced, so great indeed as almost
to counteract His Victory, certainly the most
glorious ever atchieved. Many people wear silver
favours with black in the centre as mourning, and
we shall probably have a public mark of this sort
when his body arrives, of which, however, there is
some danger, for it is strongly believed the Euryalus
is lost or taken with it and the French and Spanish
Admirals on board. I believe Prussia is really
disposed to co-operate, but I doubt much if she will
go so far as active war.
I am going to commence actor this Christmas at
the Priory, where we have got a very good theatre.
I am to perform Oroonoko, Falkland in the Rivals,
&c, &c. William Lamb also acts.
Have you no conception of the period to your
exile, or must it still be much prolonged? I trust
not. There will be active work on the continent,
which perhaps may procure you employment. Lord
Granville is certainly coming home, tho' Lord
Cathcart, who was to succeed him, is ill of the gout.
I have heard it said, but mind this is sous la Rose,
that Jackson is to be recalled owing to some dis-
agreement with the court of Berlin. Stratton is still
at Constantinople, although dieing to get away.
There will be some sharp debates in Parliament at
the opening of the Session, but these continental
alliances and naval victories have come very oppor-
2SO THE TWO DUCHESSES.
tunely to Mr. Pitt's assistance. Lord Melville's
business will perhaps be prolonged through the
Session. How this persecution will end, God
knows.
I hear nothing of Ossulston interesting. Au
reste il y a un bruit sourd which says that he is
actually married. The Theatre is in great glory.
Kemble1 and Mrs. Siddons2 every night — fancy after
being made sick with an automate of a boy all last
year, a girl of 7 or 8 years old is coming out this
week at Covent Garden. Ohe jam satis! — Yours
most affectionately, Aberdeen.
Tell me something about Moreau3 and Dessalines.4
What sort of a fellow is Christophe?5 Adieu. If
you see Moreau put him in mind that Jackson intro-
duced me to him at Paris, and that I told him
(Jackson) that he was the man I most admired and
wished to see in France.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
November 29, 1805.
It was in vain, my dearest Augustus, to have
written to you the first days of the news of the
1 Kemble — John K. was at this time carrying on Covent Garden theatre (1757-
1823).
' Mrs. Siddons— Sister of John and Charles Kemble (1755-1831).
3 Moreau — The greatest general of the French Republic except Napoleon (1763-
1813).
4 Dessalines — Jacques D. , first Emperor of Hayti. He was an imported negro
from the Gold Coast of Africa, and was totally uneducated (1760-1806),
0 Christophe — Henri C, negro King of Hayti. He began life as cook in a tavern
(1767-1820).
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 251
victory of Trafalgar,1 for nothing that I could have
said would have conveyed to you any idea of the
impression on the public made by the loss of their
favourite hero. Great and wonderful as the victory
was, the prevailing sentiment in each mind was
sorrow, was grief, for Nelson. If it was the most
flattering homage that could be paid to worth, to
heroism like his, it was also an honour to the nation
to feel it as they did. When we arrived at the
Admiralty it was crowded, but every countenance
was dejected — nor could one have guessed that it
was a victory of twenty ships of the line taken from
the enemy, only that defeat would have caused
tumult, and this was the silence of sorrow and
respect. We were shown into Mr. Marsden's2 room.
He was oppressed with the contradictory feelings of
triumph for the country, and sorrow for the loss of
the greatest hero we ever had, and his friend. As
we came away there was a vast rush of people, but
all silent, or a murmur of respect and sorrow, some
of the common people saying, " It is bad news if
Nelson is killed ", yet they knew that twenty ships
were taken. A man at the turnpike gate said to
Charles Ellis, who was going through, " Sir, have
you heard the bad news? We have taken twenty
ships from the enemy, but Lord Nelson is killed."
Illuminations followed, but the first night, as if unable
to rejoice, there were none seen but on the public
buildings. The two next nights they were general,
but chiefly transparencies or mottos relating to the
1 Victory of Trafalgar — On October 21, 1805.
2 Mr. Marsden — Chief Secretary of the Admiralty.
252 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
"dear departed hero". Nelson was the only person
I ever saw who excited real enthusiasm in the
English. Every day makes his victory more precious.
ON THE VICTORY OF TRAFALGAR AND
DEATH OF NELSON.
By GEORGIANA, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE.
Nelson, by Valour led to deathless fame,
All toils surmounted and all Foes o'ercame,
Met every danger calm and undismay'd,
Whilst some new conquest mark'd each step he made.
Superior Force his ardent soul defied,
He conquer'd, knew it, " blessed his God ", and died.
Britannia glorying in her Hero's fame,
On her Victorious shield inscribes his name,
Gratefull proclaims the safety which he gave
Yet midst her Triumphs weeps upon his Grave.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
November, 1805.
. . . How do you like these lines? written by
the Duke of Devonshire on the death of Nelson.
Oft had Britannia sought midst dire alarms
Divine protection for her sons in arms.
Britons received from Heaven a mixed decree
To crown their virtues, but to check their pride
God gave them victory, but Nelson died.
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 253
. . . Villeneuve1 and two other admirals are
landed prisoners in England.
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Washington, Dec. 1, 1805.
On this day the Congress opens. We
expect a boisterous session, for they are angry with
us about our regulations in regard to their commerce.
They and we are now the two rivals in what has
always given power wherever it has extended, Com-
merce, but I trust that still and for a long time we
shall maintain the immense superiority that we do
now. They are next us in the race, but in nothing
else are they near us. We drove them into being a
Nation when they were no more fit for it than the
convicts of Botany Bay, though I must say that their
leader Washington2 was a great character, and one or
two others whom the tumult of the day drove from
their counters, but since that interest and speculation
seem to have taken fast hold of the whole country
to the exclusion of every generous feeling. Their
boasted Constitution is as much a piece of theory as
that framed by the French National Assembly, the
difference being that here it has had as yet no day
of trial; it hangs loosely upon the shoulders of the
inhabitants, but we must see it when the reins are
drawn close to be sure that nothing is brittle. I
1 Villeneuve — Admiral V, French commander at Trafalgar. He was released
in 1805, and returned to France, but, learning that his reception by Napoleon
•would be unfavourable, he committed suicide (1763-1805).
2 Washington— George W. (1732-1799).
254 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
think people mistake where the real advantage of
this Nation lies. I believe that under a Monarch
they have the means of being free and independent
from the nature of the land, the scattered manner in
which it is peopled, and the immense difficulty that
there would be in enforcing harsh mandates, from
the want of easy communication through the marshes
and forests. Almost all the sensible Americans
whom I have conversed with that were not warped
by prejudice have allowed that as Colonies, before
our oppressive exactions took place, the Country
was much happier, and the Government as mild and
less burdensome. Their manners, too, were then
much simpler, and the laws were enforced. What
do you think of a society of Atheists having been
formed not very long ago at Philadelphia for the
purpose of enlightening the Country? They had
undertaken to publish an Atheistical Paper. They
were cried down, it is true, but still remember how
the simplicity of these good people is cried up and
the pure city of Philadelphia. A Mr. Clay,1 a Mem-
ber of Congress, lately having occasion to draw on
the Bank there, wrote a Draft payable to J — s
Ch — t or order. I had myself, as you know, a high
opinion of the Constitution and manners of this
country before I left England, but I do assure you
that disgust, not to use a worse word, is all the feel-
ing I have in respect to them now. The character
of a gentleman is very rare to be found, but what
has surprized me, the character of an honest man of
' Mr. CVay— Henry C. , Speaker of the American House of Representatives, and
afterwards United States Senator. He contested the Presidency three times
without success (1771-1852).
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 255
principle is to the very full as rare. . . . There
is an ambassador from Tunis arrived here with the
most splendid dress I ever saw, and the President
receives him in yarn stockings and torn slippers, as
he does us all.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To A ugustus Foster.
Chiswick, December 1, 1805.
Archduke Charles the same accounts state to be
dead " de fatigue et de chagrin ". I was in London
for an hour or two, and Farquhar told me this news,
with which I went to Crauford's. At first M. D. had
brought contrary intelligence, and that Woronzow,
who was at Lord Macartney's, whence he came, said
that there was an army of 15,000 Russians ready
and united to act, and that with this help it seemed
impossible that the Emperor of Germany should
make peace. A few minutes after the Duke of
Queensborough sent Crauford a written paper with
the intelligence as I have given it you, so that I am
afraid it is true, and the evening papers seem to
confirm it. It is a campaign which one can compare
to nothing. They have fallen before Bonaparte like
card soldiers, and he does not seem to have lost an
officer of note. My brother still says that the game
is not up; but what can they look to? What has
war done but make Bonaparte greater and more
powerfull each campaign.
Dec. 2.
The Duchess was in town to-day. She was told
that they were betting ten to one in the City that
256 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
the news was not true, for some papers were re-
ceived of the same date as the Dutch Admiral's
note, and they mentioned neither circumstance; it
would be a great relief to know that it was not true,
yet Heaven knows if they can make any resistance;
but any thing is better than making peace with the
enemy at the gates. I hope some certain account
will come before I seal my letter.
The Victory is arrived with the remains of our
beloved Nelson. Alas, the awful vicissitudes of
human life! When I dined with him in London he
said to us, "in about two months I hope to have
done my duty and to return to England ". He is
returned in little more than two months, but the
Victor is laid low. Four of the prizes were saved;
three are arrived; four others were taken by Sir R.
Strahan, and the two in the summer makes ten ships
of the line taken and sixteen destroyed on the 21st.
Of that mighty combined fleet three only are now
able to put to sea. Dear Clifford has written the
most affecting and interesting letter possible, and is
miserable at having been sent with five others on a
particular service a fortnight before, but when I look
on the number of midshipmen killed and wounded I
can but rejoice he was not there.
Now as to the state of your friends here at Chis-
wick, the Duke has the gout, but is, I hope, getting
better; the Duchess is pretty well, so am I. Dun-
cannon and his bride dined here yesterday; we like
her very much; some think her pretty, others not.
I think her pretty though, with a nose almost as
long as Prince D., but she has a fair and soft skin,
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 257
pretty teeth, good hair, pretty figure, and very pleas-
ing voice and manners. He seems very happy, and
they are to come back and stay a few days. Lord
Aberdeen is making pendant at the Priory to Caro
and W. Lamb, who flirt all day long e felice adesso.
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Washington, Dec. 27, 1805.
. . . I am here in the midst of Africans and
Savages. We have an Ambassador from Tunis and
his suite in the City, and deputies from eight nations
beyond the Mississippi are arrived. They passed
on horseback by my windows a few days ago in
arriving, and made such a Hue and Cry that I
thought all Washington was in convulsion. Two of
them were naked to the waist, their heads shaved to
the Crown, faces red, ears green, and feathers and
bills of birds stuck all over them. Others had their
faces shaded with black, and streaks of black painted
from the crown to the chin, with sack loads of feathers
and quills tied to their hair behind. They are 2 1 in
all, generally tall, stout men, but not so much so as
I expected to find them.
I have formed an acquaintance with a young man
of the Sac nation who is very good looking, about
1 7, and who is son to a very principal chief of that
country. I got him to come to me for three hours
to have his portrait taken, and I had an opportunity
of studying a little his character, which is very re-
258 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
served and timid. However, he becomes by degrees
at his ease more and more, and I amused him ex-
tremely by shewing him caricatures. The figure of
Lord Salisbury in the King and Gulliver made him
laugh excessively, and he observed that John Bull
had very short legs. His name is Wa-Pawni-ha or
White Hare. We are great friends, and he shakes
my hand with a smile of content when he sees me.
He has four men to attend on him, and is now occu-
pied in learning to write English. The first lesson
I saw him taking to-day, and he really seems very
intelligent. None of them have that ferocious coun-
tenance which I had been led to expect, and they
behave very decently and with perfect propriety.
Another man, an Osage, I was introduced to to-day.
His name, for you must have him introduced to you
in form, is Pa hu la or beaux cheveux. He told me
that when he was young he had fine hair, but on
becoming warriors they tear out the hair, a most
painful operation in appearance, but which they don't
seem to mind. There are no squaws come with
them, to my great disappointment.
From this side of the Mississippi there are arrived
several Cherokees, who are the most advanced in
civilization. They dress like us, and have features
like inhabitants of the South of France. They and
the Creeks are the only two Nations which are sup-
posed now to increase their number. Division of
property has taken place among them within these
few years, and, which is a great point, the women
are treated with respect. Colonel Hawkins, a very
amiable man, who is superintendent of the Southern
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 259
Indians, told me that ten years ago, when he first
settled among the Creeks, the women would leave
the pathway for the men to pass, but now, by his
example, the men universally give place to the
women. He says that the fair sex has been of the
greatest assistance to him in civilizing that nation,
and that now a woman will not dismount from her
horse unless helped off by a man, and that they are
fully sensible of the benefit he has been to them.
They still, however, throw away their children if de-
formed, and they show very little outward and visible
signs of attachment of any sort. . . .
Our Corps Diplomatique has really been enriched
very much from a quarter which one should little
expect any thing from — Tunis. Sidi men ne melli,
the Ambassador from the Bey of Tunis turns out
to be a very intelligent, amiable, and conversible
man. He is an old acquaintance of Prince Augustus,
to whom he sends a letter by this packet, and of
Lady Hamilton, and was of her parties at Naples.
He has taken a great fancy to me, and we are the
best friends in the world, as I speak Italian, which
he also, though imperfectly, understands. As we
are at war with Spain and France he is almost the
only one of the Corps with whom we communicate.
A nephew of Mr. J. Randolph (a Member of Con-
gress of Virginia, and a young man of considerable
merit), a boy about 12 years old, who is deaf and
dumb, has just been sent by his uncle to England
to try the effects of medical aid. He goes to Mr.
Munroe's first, and then to a school at Bermondsey,
and if you can be of any service to him in case he
260 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
should ultimately go to Paris, to Sicard,1 it would be
doing a kind thing, and I should be glad of it, for,
though Randolph is an enemy to England, yet he is
almost the only gentlemanly man that belongs to the
Congress.
You may rest assured that no Randolph such as is
described in the paper you sent has ever possessed
a town house in Philadelphia, nor has there been
one within these 20 years whose estate was disposed
of in the manner described. As the lady is so young
and the name so aristocratic a one in this country
the story of Mrs. Randolph would have been fresh
in the memory of every one, and particularly of the
Virginians; and the whole family and its branches
have been all conned over repeatedly before me, and
no individual found to apply the account to.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To A ugustus Foster.
December 16 thQ), 1805.
[Fragment.]
to-day to see the preparations, and in returning your
brother stopped me ; he had overheard in the streets
saying the Mails are come in and the news is not so
bad, but when we got to St. James' Square, where
we dined, we found how bad the news was thought.
It is indeed over with the Continent2. The Em-
peror of Russia is not concerned in the armistice and
1 Sicard — The Abbe1 S., instructor of the deaf and dumb (1742-1822).
z It is indeed over with the Continent — This evidently refers to the battle of
Austerlitz on Dec. 2, 1805, which was followed by an armistice a few days after.
This victory of Napoleon is said to have given Pitt his death-blow.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 26 1
was ready to go on, but nothing can be more ruined
than the Emperor of Austria and Germany. The
gloom over Pitt's friends is extreme, and he is him-
self very ill at Bath.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
"t>
Devonshire House, Dece7nber 31, 1805.
. You can't conceive anything like the
publick anxiety about the event of the battle of the
2nd, and those said to be given subsequent to it.
We have been left without certain intelligence for a
length of time, and the reports have been strong of
a decisive advantage to the Allies, but a boat has
come out with the Argus paper, printed at Paris,
saying that the Emperors of Austria and France
had concluded an armistice. I do not, cannot believe
the Emperor Alexander has to do with it. W.
Ponsonby speaks of him with enthusiasm, and his
bravery has been conspicuous; but war is Bonaparte's
element, and we play his cards for him when we give
him an opportunity of making it. Where it will end,
God knows.
Meanwhile magnificent preparations are making at
home for our loved Hero's funeral. It is to be a
national tribute to the favourite of this great nation
which has been blessed with many heroes, but surely
none so great, so brilliant as Nelson. They have
tried to throw difficulties in the way of the Prince of
Wales attending, but he is determined. He admired
him, he says, as the greatest character England could
262 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
ever boast of, and he loved him as a friend to whom
he was bound by every tie that could bind him to
another. He was proud that England had produced
such a hero. If there is a good life of him I will
send it to you. The Bishop of Exeter is to write
one, I know, and with original letters. . . .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
1805.
. . . Lord Aberdeen looks dreadfully; he has
been at Bath, and he frets so about Lord Melville
that I really think he will make himself ill ; yet the
trial must come on, and I fear new things are come
out. Both Lord and Lady Melville are at Bath;
she is ill, and the complaint at his heart seems to
increase. I pity them from my heart. Poor Lord
Aberdeen, he is a delightful person. She is very
pretty and likes Petrarch; that is something to
redeem her with you. He and I have sparring
about Roscius, for since Kemble was at the Priory
instructing Lord Aberdeen in acting he has won him
from the Boy and made him insist that all merit
depends on right emphasis, and think that all acting
different from Kemble's is wrong, — but the Boy has
had a complete triumph: two nights ago acting
Rolla, which he did' with great success, Charles
Kemble1, out of low envy, tried to cast a ridicule on
him, and in the prison scene where Rolla gives his
1 Charles Kemble — Brother of the more famous John Philip K. and of Mrs.
Siddons (1775-1854).
INSCRIPTION FOR A BUST OF CHARLES JAMES FOX. 263
disguise to Alonso, Charles Kemble, to mark the
difference of their size, threw it round him like a
sack, on which the whole House hissed him, crying
"off," and hissed him every time he appeared,
whilst the applause to the Boy was greater than
ever, with shouts of " bravo, excellent ". It is a
wonderful piece of acting, and his carrying off the
child perfect nature and grace. Grassini sang in
Cleopatra Tuesday, and excellently, I hear, but alas
we lose her this summer. . . . There is a wax
figure of Lord Nelson put up in Westminster Abbey,
which is as if he was standing there. Vivra il suo
nome mille secoli e mille.
Note from Charles J. Fox
To Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire.
1805.
Pray speak to everybody you can to come down
or we shall be lost on the Slave Trade. Morpeth,
Ossulston, Ld. A. H., Ld. H. Petty all away. Pray,
pray send any body you see. Yours,
C. J. F.
X-past seven, H. of C.
INSCRIPTION FOR A BUST OF CHARLES
JAMES FOX,
BY THE HONBLE. WILLIAM LAMB, AFTERWARD
VISCOUNT MELBOURNE, PRIME MINISTER.
Live, Marble, Live, for thine a sacred Trust,
The patriot's face that speaks his noble mind ;
264 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Live that our sons may kneel before this Bust,
And hail the Benefactor of Mankind.
This was the man who midst the Tempest's rage
A rock of safety to the nations stood,
Warn'd with prophetic voice a servile age,
And strove to quench the ruthless thirst for blood.
This was the man whose ever deathless name,
Recalls his generous life's illustrious scenes;
To Bless his fellow Creatures was his aim,
And universal Liberty his means.
EPITAPH BY THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE
ON THE LATE LORD SPENCER. D. 1805.
If e'er sincerity inscribed the stone,
Giving the dead no merits but their own,
Behold it here. This verse with Sculpture's aid,
Records the debt by Love and Duty paid,
That Strangers and Posterity may know
How pure a Spirit warmed the Dust below.
But they who felt the Virtues of his Life,
Whether the Orphan, Friend, or Child or Wife,
Need not Poets or the Sculptor's Art
To wake the Feelings of a Grateful Heart.
Their Love, their grief, his honour best proclaim,
The Living monuments of Spencer's Fame.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
January 17, 1806.
The American dispatches have been retarded, and
I have delayed also sending or writing even, for
really there is such a gloom over every thing. I
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 265
wanted to have something better to say. Then the
procession and the funeral pomp(?) at Greenwich and
to town and from the Admiralty to St. Paul's was
affecting beyond measure. In short, what with that
and seeing people connected with Lord Nelson and
collecting a variety of anecdotes about him you can-
not conceive how knocked up I feel. We are going
— Fred F., Caro, and I — to Brocket1 to-morrow for
a couple of days. I think it will do us good.
Nothing has done more honor to the country than
the manner in which they have felt the loss of Nel-
son. In the thousands that were collected on that
day it was a stillness which nothing broke through
but a sort of murmur of "Hats off!" as the Car
passed, and ejaculations of " God bless his soul who
died for us to protect us; never shall we see his like
again ". This show altogether was magnificent, but
the common people, when the Crew of the Victory
passed, said: "We had rather see them than all the
show". The Prince has shown a feeling that did
him honor.
Now a new interest arises. Parliament meets on
the 21st, and Pitt is so ill that he can't attend, nor
will he, I believe, be able for a long time. The
King is so blind he can't open the Session, so you
see we are in a happy state. Lord Ossulston has
just told me that Lord Henry moves the amend-
ment. It is also thought that the Addingtons will
vote with opposition. Lord Wellesley2 is just arrived
from India, and is undecided which way to act. They
1 Brocket— Brocket Hall, country seat of Lord Melbourne in Hertfordshire.
^Lord Wellesley — Marquis Wellesley, Governor-general of India (1760-1842).
266 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
say that he owes everything to Lord Grenville, but
I suppose he dreads the Lion1 recovering, and that
he should have turned too soon against him. What
a miserable being is a Politician without a heart!
\%th.
. . . I think your letter a very clever one,
and I have thoughts of shewing it to Mr. Fox. It
is the best picture of America I have had. I hope
there will be no war with us. . . . Lady Holland
inquired a good deal about you last night, and Lord
Holland owned he believed your account was a true
one. . . .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Thursday ; January 23, 1806.
The papers will tell you of Mr. Pitt's death,2 but
none of them can do justice to the generous regret
that is felt by opposition. On the Tuesday we were
stopped at Devonshire House and told that at the
moment the amendment was to be made Pitt's death
would probably be announced. This, however, was
not so, but now it is over; it is past; that name that
filled so vast a space in the world is gone! He was
calm and resigned, and his fortitude unshaken! It
is an awful moment, and I will write more another
time.
Saturday.
Nothing can paint better the feelings of a
generous mind than the conversation which passed
1 The Lion— William Pitt (1759-1806).
2 Mr. Pitt's death — He died on Jan. 23, the day on which this letter was written.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 267
between Fox and the Duke. The Duke was saying
that he thought it impossible not to be shocked at
the death of a man of such superior abilities, even
though one differed from him in political opinion.
"Shocked," answered Mr. Fox; "yes, certainly it
feels as if something was missing in the world!" I
can't tell you the effect these few words had upon
me — so simple, so sublime in their simplicity. It is
reported that the King has sent to Lord Grenville;
if so, I am sure he will not come in without Fox.
Monday, 27I/1.
Lord Grenville has been with the King. The
King said to him, " I wish you, my Lord, to help me
to make a new administration ". " I must first, Sire,
consult with Mr. Fox." " Yes, certainly," said the
King, " I supposed so." So the conference ended,
and now is indeed an anxious moment. I was sure,
from a conversation I had with Lady Hawkesbury,
that this was likely. The whole tenor of her con-
versation went to extol the King's purity of intention
and devotion to whatever he thought the good of
the country. We shall see. The King only added,
" Let me have it by Wednesday or Thursday". To-
day was Mr. Lascelles' motion1 of publick honor to
Pitt. The motion is to be framed, they say, on the
one made for Lord Chatham. Fox wished it might
have been so worded as that he may agree, and
even said before in the House that if it was not so
1 Mr. Lascelles' motion — The motion was for a public funeral and monument to
the memory of Pitt. Fox declined to assent to the motion, and Wyndham spoke
against it. Among those who supported it were Wilberforce and Lord Castle-
reagh. On a division the motion was carried by 258 to 89. Pitt's debts, amounting
to ,£40,000, were paid by the nation. He was buried in Westminster Abbey on
Feb. 22.
268 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
worded as to be a gross violation of all his principles
to support it that it would meet with no opposition
from that side of the House, but I hear Mr. Las-
celles was obstinate. It, however, gave rise to the
most beautiful speech Fox ever made. The Morning
Chronicle gave it very ill; instead of his saying
" perhaps it was an honor," Fox said, " people had
done him the honor to call him that Right Honour-
able Gentleman's Rival " (and a great honor it was),
but you will have seen it in the papers. Mr. Wynd-
ham's no body liked; however, all Pitt's relations
and friends were pleased with Mr. Fox's. How
happy shall I be if I can promote your advantage
and happiness.
loth.
Lord Grenville has asked for another day. The
King came to town and has seen Lord Hawkesbury,
but I don't suspect any trick. Fox won't tell us any
arrangements, and says they ought not to be known
till the King has seen them. General Fitzpatrick
was resisting our invitations to Devonshire House,
saying we should be trying to get secrets from him.
" That's a good one," said Fox laughing, " he has
none to tell." You may conceive the busy look of
St. James's Street. Mr. Fox asked me in the
kindest manner about you, and whether you liked
America. La risposta era facile. I long for to-
morrow.
Friday.
The King said he should make no observations,
but should send to Lord Grenville when he wanted
him: different comments are made on this.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 269
Saturday.
The King saw Lord Grenville this evening; he
seemed surprized at the article about the Duke of
York. "Is it", he said, "meant as a slur on the
Duke of York?" " Nothing, Sire, further from our
intentions." The King then said he must reconsider
of it. He asked if it had not always been as now
since the Duke of Cumberland. Lord Grenville
assured His Majesty that if he inquired he would
find it had not, and the article at bottom of the list
was in the most respectful terms, saying that, as
the revision of the measures for the defence of the
Country must be the first that would come into con-
sideration, it was humbly hoped that the Commander
in Chief would submit to concert his measures with
the Council at a time when the state of the Country
required so much that they should act in concert.
As nearly as I can ascertain, it was expressed these
people had been prepared to think it had been
intended to remove the Duke of York, or that some-
thing harsh had been said, but it was not so; and
when this was understood there seemed to be but
one voice that the King ought to be advised to
consent to it.
Monday, Feb. 3.
It is said that the King wrote to Lord Grenville
yesterday, and that he is to see him to-day. Before
the ship goes I hope I shall have some decided
intelligence to send you. Yesterday London was in
a fever, for it was soon circulated at the Opera that
it was off. Fox was there in his usual good spirits,
at which, I suppose, people were surprised, but he is
270 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
unlike any thing and superior to every body. I
have heard that some people were for letting the
subject of the Army rest for the present, but he,
with his noble sincerity and integrity, said that it
was more fair and much handsomer to state all their
intentions now; to take no advantage. It has risked
the whole thing being off, but it is with honor if it is
so, and if the King has a heart to appreciate Fox,
what honor this must do him with the King. I
sha'n't dare send this letter by the merchant ship, but
I will write a line by it to tell you of this.
Wednesday, $ik.
. . . To-day they were to kiss hands. I left
off Monday. That was a day of fever. About one
we knew Lord Grenville was with the King; about
three or four that all was doing well ; and about six
a note from Arlington Street told us that all was
settled. Lord Grenville was to see the King again
in the evening for the final arrangements, and that
the new Ministers were to kiss hands, and to-day I
believe there is some delay about Lord Grenville on
account of some plan he has which may delay it
till to-morrow, but on Friday this packet goes, and
with it I will send you the correct list. What a
change! You will hear, I suppose, and so do we
here, some abuse of letting in some of the Adding-
tons. Yesterday all was discontent amongst some
of our minor friends on this account, but it is very
different from the manner in which Mr. Pitt came in,
leaving all the Addingtonians whom he had abused
and tacking himself on to them, or coming in a great
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 27 1
body, as Fox and Lord Grenville do, and then ad-
mitting Lord Sidmouth and one other to the Cabinet,
and a few to other places — to form, in short, a broad
bottomed administration, placing people there where
their talents can be of use — thus Lord Auckland is
at the Board of Trade — he, and almost he only,
understands trade.
Wednesday night.
Fox says the order of the day is content, and the
Duchess incloses you a list of the new administration
as far as it goes, I mean as is finally settled. Several
kissed hands to-day, and the King was very gracious,
but so blind, poor man, that it was painfull to see
him. The report is Sir R. Strachan is in sight of a
squadron of the Brest fleet, and pray God we may
have a victory, though that of Trafalgar might
suffice for a century. . . .
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Washington, Feb. 1, 1806.
Our disputes and concerns with this country are
becoming greater and greater every day, and our
business becomes consequently greater likewise.
The two greatest commercial nations on the globe
cannot move in the same sphere without jostling
one another a little while we are aiming blows at the
French Marine. We want elbow room and these
good neutrals won't give it to us, and therefore they
get a few side pushes which makes them grumble.
272 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
However, I hope they will see their interests better
than to seriously quarrel with us for the benefit of
the foreign adventurers who carry on an unlawful
trade from their ports with the West Indies. . . .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, Feb. 3, 1806.
. . . I send you this merely to say that all our
friends are coming in, and I believe are to kiss
hands the day after to-morrow. You will see by
the papers the loss the Country has again sustained
in the death of Mr. Pitt! that name, so great, so
known, which occupied so vast a space, is gone!
. . . On Thursday Mr. Pitt died; on Saturday
the King sent for Lord Grenville and told him he
wished his assistance to form a new Administration.
Lord Grenville said the first thing he must do must
be to consult Mr. Fox. " I supposed so," answered
the King, " let me have the list by Wednesday or
Thursday." " By Thursday, Sir," — so it ended.
They asked a day more, and gave it on Friday. An
article at the end about the Commander in Chief made
a difficulty, and the king said he must reconsider of it.
I mistake — the King took it Friday and said he
should send for Lord G., and on Saturday evening
it was that the article about the Army made a hitch:
it was reported at the opera to be off: most of
Sunday passed without any thing; Sunday evening
another message to Lord Grenville, and on Monday
FROM GEORGIANA, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 273
(yesterday) the King saw and settled every thing
with Lord G., and we were told about five that
Wednesday (to-morrow) they were to kiss hands.
What a change! and what hopes, my Augustus, does
it give me for you ! but of this another time. Lord
Hawkesbury has the Cinque Ports. Some blame
him, and certainly Mr. Fox had wished it for Lord
Chatham, to whom he would have given it. Fox
made a beautiful speech yesterday on the motion to
pay Mr. Pitt's debts. I send you a paper. The
most beautiful was that on the motion for public
honors. Mrs. Fox is happy, but has the most per-
fect good sense as well as good nature in her new
situation. One of her first ideas was to ask me
about you. I sha'n't forget that. The Duchess'
friendship you know too well to doubt it — so a little
patience, dearest child, go on improving yourself in
French and Italian. I have seen no faults lately in
French, and Italian I am afraid you now know
better than me. . . .
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire
To Augustus Foster.
March, (?) 1806.
Dear Augustus, — Mr. Pitt's death was felt by his
opponents in a manner that did equal honor to him
and them. They regretted his loss and his talents,
and I may venture to say Mr. Fox would be well
pleased indeed could he recall him to life and place
him in his Cabinet. At any other time I should
274 THE TW0 DUCHESSES.
rejoice and exult in the assemblage of talent and
integrity which we now can boast of, but alas, in
these times what is to be done; it is uphill labour,
and it must be the regret of every one that the pro-
posed junction was not suffered to take place when
it might have saved Europe. ... I have sent
you a remembrance — a memorial of Lord Nelson,
but I trust, as you do, that he will have left us some
of his eleves and comrades who will emulate his
glory. . . .
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Washington, March 10, 1806.
. . . Our news is not later than the 19th of
December from London, and we only know up to
the reports of the battle of the 5th, and the heroism
of the Emperor Alexander. You may have had
peace long ago for ought we know here. I wish
sincerely you may if it be a good one, for I long
very much to return. Nevertheless, I must own
that this Mission is very interesting during war time.
Our disputes about Neutral rights have been under
discussion in the Congress, and I have heard their
best speakers. One of them, Mr. J. Randolph, the
uncle of the deaf and dumb boy whom I recommended
to you, who is with Mr. Munroe, took up the argu-
ment favorable to England, and managed it with a
great deal of brilliancy and success, though hitherto
considered as the leader of the Democratic party in
opposition to the Federalists. He has now taken
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 275
his stand as head of the landed interest as opposed
to the carrying part of the Commercial interest. He
is a very singular character, and has the extraordinary
merit of having taught himself. He lost his father
when a boy, and was indulged in idleness by his
mother till he was 16 or 17, when he was sent to a
college, where he learned very little. He is now 33,
has the voice of a boy, and the appearance. He is
extremely thin, and from bodily infirmities scarce
can know an hour's ease. He is a good deal at
times at Mr. Merry's, and as he is very gentleman-
like and full of imagination I like him very much.
As he is certainly the first in point of brilliancy in
either house, I have given you this account of him.
He has, besides, as who has not who has heard of
her, a most sincere veneration for your Duchess and
for your mutual friendship. Being a direct descend-
ant from Pocahontas, he values nobility of birth very
highly, and is intimately acquainted with all our
great families, even to their estates, and their dis-
tances from London and each other: he has taken
me en amitie\ and we often ride together.
For about a fortnight during the winter Washing-
ton was as gay as it can be, that is, we met parties
crowded in little rooms in the different houses here,
by going 3 or 4 miles, sometimes 6 miles, every
evening. There were several strangers, and some
very pretty girls. There was one with as handsome
a face as any I have ever seen. Mrs. Merry gave
a little dance, which was pronounced feiner and more
charmin than any thing of the sort ever seen. I
wore the Prince's uniform, which is very popular
276 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
here, though I was obliged to shew a little resent-
ment at a reason which was insinuated for its being
so. ... I congratulate you on the defeat of
the French fleet in the West Indies. We seem to
sweep the Ocean. General Moreau1 I have not seen.
I must obey Mr. Merry about him, unless I should
meet him in private society. He is very communi-
cative, I understand, at Philadelphia, where he now
is. He gives as his opinion that Bonaparte has
got into a Cul de sac, and must be destroyed if
the Austrian generals manage the matter skilfully.
Madame Moreau is enchanting the Americans. Her
dancing is said to be superior to any thing ever seen
of the sort in the United States. Moreau wears
plain clothes and a round hat: he won't come down
here, as he says, for fear of embarrassing the Ad-
ministration. General Miranda2 has gone on an ex-
pedition to South America, as is supposed, and has
carried ammunition and men in four ships to revolu-
tionize the Caraccas. He has provided printers and
printing presses among other things. General
Turreau burst into tears, as is said, on hearing of
the battle of Trafalgar. . . .
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Washington, March 25, 1806.
Still no packet arrives, and five months are fast
going by since the date of your last letter to me. 1
1 General Moreau — See p. 25a
- General Miranda — Founder of the Independence of Spanish America (175°-
1816).
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 277
almost dread its arrival now, and wait for the Post
every evening with nearly more fear than hope.
Our public news has been so bad that I scarce dare
to think what our letters may bring. When such a
man as Pitt dies in the full vigour of life, and such
campaigns are fought as the one of last winter, one
cannot guess what may next happen. However, if
I only had letters from you of February in my pocket,
I should not grieve much about our National Affairs.
We are pretty safe, I think, from French fleets and
French invasion. Such men as Lord Grenville and
Mr. Fox, I dare say, will not sacrifice our rights, and
Alexander may yet find the Usurper a good deal to
do in the Levant. Pitt has haunted me ever since
his death. I think I see his figure every hour
thundering over poor little Addington. At such a
distance as this, when one hears of the death of so
great a man as he, one really cannot conceive it; it
only serves to call him more forcibly to one's mind,
and to place him in the strongest point of view in
which one has ever seen him. He and Nelson have
been indeed great losses to us, and Lord Cornwallis,
as Viceroy of India, was surely a loss to us, but to
compare small things with great, they say that no
man should long be under the same valet de chambre,
and perhaps it was necessary we should know by
proof that our whole dependence was not upon one
person, however pre-eminent. . . . If they make
peace, we shall, we must be ruined. Give him a
year, 'tis all he wants to fill his dockyards with
materials, and our only safeguard will be in jeopardy.
We have only now to look to our wooden walls, and
278 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
I trust they won't be sacrificed. The moment our
right arm is bent we are gone.
LINES WRITTEN BY THE EARL OF CARLISLE
ON THE DEATH OF GEORGIANA, DUCHESS OF
DEVONSHIRE, MARCH 30, 1806.
Bright eminence and worth have seemed of late,
For cold extinction to be marked by fate:
Soaring with higher flight, Death wings his way,
And, like the eagle, strikes the noblest prey.
Valour's first-born, lamented Nelson, dies:
Next o'er Pitt's corse we hang with weeping eyes.
Now, at the insatiate Tyrant's savage call,
The most attractive of her Sex must fall.
O! tenderest Parent! O! sincerest Friend!
Can it be Thee, o'er whose pale form we bend ;
Thee, whom so late on Health's elastic bound,
VVe saw diffusing pleasure all around.
Is that the forehead, where each Grace and Muse
Twined their joint garland of a thousand hues?
Are those the eyes which beam'd with vivid sense,
And spoke the soul of pure benevolence?
That the warm breast, where mild Affection chose
To graft on Meekness stern Compassion's rose?
Peace to thy fleeting soul! Tho' here below
Malice at all direct the assassin's blow.
Nor even Thee the accursed fiend should spare,
Yet where All's justice thou hast least to fear,
For leagued with mercy at the Almighty's throne,
Shall Charity unbend the accusing frown,
Sustain thy trembling head, and claim thee for her own.
FROM THE HON. MRS. LAMB. 279
George Prince of Wales1 (afterwards King George the Fourth)
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Dear Lady Elizabeth, — I am really quite asham'd
of intruding upon you and upon the Duke under any
circumstances at the present moment, but particularly
so when it is respecting a trifle. To take up as
little as possible of your time, I will immediately
come to the point, and will beg of you to borrow
from the Duke for a few days his Collar of the
Order of the Garter. By some misfortune my
Brother Augustus cannot find his, and if you will
have the goodness to send it to me to Carlton House
this evening, I will take care of it and return it when
the Trial2 is over. Forgive me all the trouble I am
giving you, and believe me ever, Dearest Lady
Elizabeth, most affectionately yours, George.
Carlton House, April i%th, 1806.
The Hon. Mrs. Lamb
To A ugustus Foster.
1806.
You must feel so very anxious to know how your
dear Mother's health and spirits have borne the
dreadful misfortune we all deplore, that I will write
to you a line to tell you that she is better than I
could have expected, and than her misery seemed to
give any hope for, but as to spirits, what, my dear
1 George, Prince of Wales, afterwards King George IV. (1762-1830).
2 The trial — Probably in view of his being present as a peer at the trial of Lord
Melville, which began in Westminster Hall on April 26.
280 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Augustus, can ever restore them., since time that
soothes and heals common afflictions seems but to
add to this? Each new day brings some new proofs
of its extent, and how very very irreparable it is.
All who knew her loved her, but it was adoration
that she inspired to her nearest friends, and thus to
have her torn from them, to watch her through a
suffering illness and in the awful moments of death,
is a lesson so striking, yet so heartbreaking, that we
must have sunk under it had not God Almighty
supported us through it, and in the height of misery
given us strength and resignation to bear it; but I
need not and cannot describe to you all that we have
gone through, scenes of misery and horror rendered
more dreadful by the contrast to a life of happiness,
to the thoughtless security of a few weeks past. . . .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, May 18, 1806.
One of the cruel circumstances attending on dis-
tance is the unconsciousness of our nearest friends to
what is most nearly influencing the happiness or
misery of those they love. Thus, my dearest Augus-
tus, I read your three letters, which otherwise would
have been delightful to me, with agony of heart. Alas,
that friendship which could excite enthusiasm even
in an American is lost to me for ever. The recollec-
tion alone remains, and regrets, never ceasing regrets,
regrets only to be equalled by the angelick, the un-
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 28 1
equalled qualities of the friend of my heart, my dear,
my loved, my adored friend. Frederick wrote to you
what I could not. Since then I have lived in a kind
of stupor; all seems like a dream; we have never left
the house; we live amongst ourselves, so that as yet
I am not awake to the certainty of the horrid event.
Oh, my dear Augustus, what a blank in my future
life! I am and ought to be grateful for the friend
that is preserved to me, and for such affectionate
sons, but she was the only female friend I ever had.
Our hearts were united in the closest bonds of confi-
dence and love, and the charm of her society, which
you so well know how to appreciate, could only be
equalled by the divine, the truly angelick qualities
of her heart and soul. Oh, could you see how sad
poor Devonshire House looks. All are well in
health.
. . . I wrote you a journal of all, and my loved
friend wrote you a list of the new Administra-
tion. . . .
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Washington, May 28, 1806.
I thank God that you are well, my ever dearest
mother, and I am very much obliged to Frederick
for his kind consideration for writing so in the first
line of his melancholy letter. Oh, my poor Ma,
what a loss, what a dreadful loss! How keenly, how
bitterly must you feel, to be severed from such a tie.
The sad news reached me almost all at once. I had
282 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
scarcely read in a paper the day before of her illness,
when in another the next day I saw we had lost her
for ever. I still had some hopes till Frederick's
letter proved it but too true. What a cruel addition
to the losses of the last winter! It seems as if we
were to be deprived of all that is good and great in
our country to prepare us for some heavy calamity.
There is no part of this world, I believe, where the
angelic Duchess will not be deeply regretted; her
kindness and beneficence were wound up with the
happiness of so many. Such a high and exalted
character, such unbounded nobleness of soul, such
excellence of heart, so totally free from all selfishness,
and so absorbed in thinking only for the good of
others, with every charm and every means to throw
lustre on her excellent qualities, will, I fear, never
again be met with in the same woman. How kindly
she ever treated me, who had no other recommenda-
tion to her than that of being son to her dearest
friend. She is an angel, my dear mother; you must
think of her now as in the enjoyment of the greatest
bliss which the most virtuous mortal can be rewarded
with in the uncontaminated abode, where your own
dear soul will meet with her again. You have seen
her suffer under long and dreadful pains before her
death. It must surely be a consolation to you that
you were with her, and that all the offices of the
purest and most unsullied friendship were performed
by you from the first to the very last. It must have
been a great relief to her to be eased of her cruel
sufferings. These considerations will, I trust, enable
you to bear up with a fortitude that becomes you.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 283
You are too necessary to the happiness of your own
and your adopted children, and from such a loss
doubly so to the happiness of us all, not to make it
our common cause to solicit you to bear up. I hope
and trust Frederic will write to me by Merchant
Vessels frequently to say how you are. How sadly
I regret the distance I am from you at such a
moment, when I might be of some little comfort to
you. My only consolation is that you have Caroline,
who understands you, with you, and Frederick, who
is ever affectionate. Poor Lady Harriet! she has
strong claims on you for your taking care of yourself.
. . . Confide in me, my dearest Ma. The
affliction you must be suffering is my greatest
anxiety.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, June 6, 1806.
. . . We try to be grateful for the blessings
left, but yet
My heart so late of many joys possessed
Laments for many lost and trembles for the rest
Take care of yourself therefore, my dearest Augus-
tus, for my sake. I really have suffered so much
lately that I feel as if I had scarcely strength for
anxiety. I look to your return with great delight,
and hope the period is not very distant. I have
already told you that I had written to you constantly,
and from December that we came to town had
284 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
taken pleasure in writing you journals that you might
know exactly how things went on and the opinions
and expectations of the day — all during Pitt's illness
and the forming of the new Administration, and my
beloved friend had written to you the list of the new
Ministers and Mr. Fox's message about you. . . .
As to the present moment I can say but little, for I
have had no heart to attend to politicks, or to see
those could tell them to me. . . . Russia seems
more inclined to peace, and has given up the
Cattaro1 to Austria to be yielded to France. Sweden
is chevaleresque, and is worthy of admiration. Eng-
land still triumphant at sea, and the publick just now
very curious about Miranda, so pray write to me all
about him. Lord Elgin, Lord Yarmouth, and Col.
Abercromie are come home. My brother supports
Government, which is delightful to me; he approves
Mr. Wyndham's plan, and meant to speak in support
of it. . . . I do not wonder at all you felt about
Pitt's death. I had written to you Mr. Fox's ex-
pression about that event. He said, " It feels as if
something was missing in the world ". Oh Heavens!
how truly may that be said of my dear, dear
Georgiana, who ever filled such a space as she did
in society? To whom was she as she was to me?
. . . I have not seen Lord Aberdeen since my
misfortune, but I hear that it is thought that the
trial of Lord Melville will end well. The day is not
known, but I suppose that it will be in about ten
days. He bears up amazingly well. . . .
1 The Cattaro — An Austrian town and district in Dalmatia which belonged for a
few years to the French.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 285
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, July 2, 1806.
. . . It is believed that there is a negotiation
going on between this country and France, but all is
kept a profound secret. Meanwhile several of the
persons that were detained have returned to Eng-
land. The next thing that occupies the publick
mind is the affairs of the Princess of Wales, and Sir
I. or Lady Douglas has deposed on oath assertions of
her ill conduct. The Prince told the King, and the
King ordered a committee of the Privy Council to
examine the evidence. Lord Grenville, Spencer,
the Chancellor, and Lord Ellenborough are the per-
sons so empowered. The report is to be given in
to-day. . . . The Session is now nearly over.
Scotland is, I believe, henceforth to have her juries
and decide her own causes. Irish Elections are to
be put on the same footing as the English ones, and
other regulations of that kind, which tend to civilize
the country and give it a little more political morality.
To-day, also, we are to know who goes to India.
The day before yesterday the Duke dined with
Charles Fox, who was very cheerful, and Lady
Bessborough and I have generally gone in the even-
ing. Never was any thing more perfect than all
Lord Grenville's conduct towards Fox, and as to the
question which in one of your letters you say is put
of who is first: Is Fox under Lord Grenville or
Lord Grenville under Fox? I really believe their
great and good minds despise the form. They have
286 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
united for the publick service and act cordially to-
gether. . . .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, July 3, 1806.
. . . Mr. Fox continues mending. The Duke
of Devonshire dined with him the other day, and
Fox sent to him again for to-day. The rumour of
the day is peace, and Lord Holland to go to Paris.
The truer are Lord Minto to India and Mr. T.
Grenville to the Board of Controul. Mr. Erskine
does at last go to America, so the speculating Lord
Selkirk1 you are rid of. . . . Lord Ossulston I
really believe very soon will marry Corise. As to
poor Devonshire House, we have as yet gone no
where, seen no body but the nearest friends. I have
had no heart, no courage, to do any thing, nor will
you be surprised at it. The constant charm of my
life is gone. She doubled every joy, lessened every
grief. Her society had an attraction I never met
with in any other being. Her love for me was
really " passing the love of woman " — povero cor
mio quanto hai sofferto. . . . As to the affair
of the Princess of Wales which the papers are full
of, the report of the Committee was given in to the
Council yesterday, but it is said will not be made
publick. It is a strange business altogether, but I
1 Lord Selkirk — Thomas Douglas, fifth Earl of S. He assisted in settling emi-
grants in some parts of Canada, and in particular was the founder of what is now
the province of Manitoba. The title is now among those borne by the Duke of
Hamilton (1771-1820).
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 287
can't believe her really guilty. You tell me nothing
about Miranda, yet he excites publick curiosity to
the greatest degree. Lord St. Vincent called on me
yesterday, and went to Portsmouth to-day. He
said he would not come on shore again till there was
a peace or change of Ministers, and then he would
cut them. . . .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To A ugustus Foster.
Devonshire House, July 9, 1806.
Thank you, my dearest child, for your anxiety
about me. No wonder that you thought I could not
support myself under such a blow, but God is merci-
ful and gives a strength we know not we possess.
How I went through it, as my angel friend herself
said, or how I am alive to tell it, I know not — such
a loss! Oh, Dearest Augustus, She was the charm
of my existence, my constant support in all my
sorrows, the doubler and sharer of every joy. There
is no giving you any idea of the three weeks we
passed, or rather the fortnight, for the first week she
recovered so much I thought not of danger, though
Farquhar from the first was uneasy. I scarcely left
her room or her bed, yet she was almost in a con-
tinual lethargy; still almost to the last she knew her
sister and me, and her last words were to tell me she
did not mind it. Oh, heavens! my dear Augustus,
how is it that one goes through certain trials that
but to think of at a distance seems impossible to
288 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
bear. We felt stunned and unable to conceive what
had passed. I am told it is the case always in great
and deep afflictions. The Duke and I were saying
one day it appeared to us like a dream. On saying
this to Farquhar he told us it was always so. We
have as yet seen scarcely any body; we have lived
with each other; travelling was impossible on the
Duke's account, who was not quite well, and wished
to remain in London; it was equally so to me to
whom she had left all her papers and affairs, and this
trust, so sad and sacred, still occupies almost all my
mornings. It is, I feel it, a comfort as you say, to
have been with her, to have watched her looks, her
words, to have been there, as I was, hanging over
her in breathless anxiety, for in each interval of
stupor there she saw me; but it was heart-rending,
it was agony, and it seems to have shut my heart to
all joy. Yet the interest of my dear children, their
happiness and welfare, must still give me pleasure
and all the happiness I can know.
I feel by your letter all that you are to me.
Dearest Caro has been to me what you wished her.
Fred really overcame himself with sorrow. Dear
Clifford has come to support and cheer us all a little;
poor Hartington1 said it could alone give him a feel-
ing of pleasure at being again in Devonshire House,
and he has been much better since; poor Lady Bess-
borough is, as you may suppose, wretched; Georgiana
and Harriet are indeed deserving of all one's com-
passion. Georgiana is just recovered from her lying
1 Hartington — Marquis of H., afterwards sixth Duke of Devonshire. He was
at this time sixteen years old. He died unmarried, and was succeeded by his
cousin, the father of the present duke (1790-1853).
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 289
in, and looks well. The kindness and feeling of
Lord Morpeth I can never forget. You never saw
such a scene as Devonshire House. The anxiety of
people was extreme; the crowds that inquired im-
mense, and the silence and solitude of the succeeding
one horrid. Hartington I had sent for; he shewed
a manliness beyond his age, and saw his adored
mother every day, even afterwards; so did I! and I
am alive to tell it you.
I do indeed trust that I shall meet her again in
" another and a better world " as the Stranger says.
Never, I believe, were two hearts and minds so
united; never did two people think and feel so alike.
She is so present to me, and I am so constantly
occupied for her that I feel as if she was absent on a
journey, and I catch myself saying "I'll tell her this",
nor feel all my loss till some person speaking or some
circumstance makes the whole rush upon me with
fatal conviction of the truth. . . .
We are all in sad anxiety about Mr. Fox. He
has a tendency to dropsy, which is alarming at his
age and with his size; he has been better, but was
worse yesterday. The Duke dines often with him,
and is very uneasy, I think, about him. It would be
too shocking to have him wrested from us just as his
wonderful abilities were best calculated to do good.
He has been too ill for me to speak to him latterly
about you, and indeed I had so firm a reliance on
what he said to me that I have felt convinced he
only waited for an opportunity of doing what was for
your advantage. If we lose him we have nothing
left but secondary characters. Except D. D. I know
290 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
not one very pre-eminent one. However, there is
no cause for despair, and I will try to hope for the
best. ... I am not ill, I do assure you. I go
on occupying myself with her affairs, and in all I can
doing what I hope would please her dear Spirit if it
can look down upon us, and may we meet never to
part. . . .
Atigustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Washington, July 20, 1806.
Your affecting letter I have just received, and shall
ever preserve it as a last memento of the truest
friendship that ever existed. . . . Who has a
claim to the attention of every body if you have not,
who are so considerate about every body? She was
indeed to you what she was to nobody else she has
left behind her, and by none is the cruel loss so fully
estimated as by you; of this I am sure. Thank
Heaven you had so many about you who could feel
with you, and that you were able to support one
another. . . .
Frederick Foster
To A ugustus Foster.
London, July 30, 1806.
. . . I am sorry to tell you that Fox is still
very ill, and I fear that his recovery is very doubtful.
It is dropsy, and I am afraid not alone, but he has
great strength of constitution and his lungs appear
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 29 1
to be sound, so that we can't help entertaining hopes
of his recovery. I must think that it would be a
most amazing loss, and it's really frightful to see
almost all the talent, genius, and worth of the country
dying before one's eyes — Nelson, Pitt, Cornwallis, and
our beloved, amiable Duchess. Heavens! what a
change since this time last year; you will scarcely
know the country at your return. . . .
August 1st.
Fox still continues very ill, but Lady Holland told
me to-day that he was better, and that the doctors
had entered upon a new system. In short, they
have hopes and no more. Fox is really better. . . .
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania,/*/^/ (?), 1806.
. . . I thank you sincerely for your details
about that Heavenly Woman, and the more so as I
know what it must have cost you to write them. I
should be sorry indeed if Mr. Fox was to be
wrested from us, and particularly now that he is
engaged in negotiations for Peace. His great and
enlarged mind is necessary to enable us to find out
our real interests at this gloomy period. I don't,
however, quite agree in our having none but second-
ary characters to take his place. Lord Grenville,
our English Cato, and Lord Howick, I think we
might with confidence rely on. . . .
292 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
LINES BY GEORGIANA, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE
ON THE BUST OF CHARLES FOX, AT WOOBURN.1
Here 'midst the friends he loves the Man behold
In Truth unshaken and in Virtue bold,
Whose ardent Zeal and uncorrupted mind,
Dares to assert the Freedom of Mankind.
For whilst contending factions raged afar,
And fell Ambition spread the flames of War,
Fearless of blame and eloquent to save,
'Twas He, 'twas Fox, the warning council gave,
Oppos'd, but ah, how Vain! the Tide of blood,
And to the Nations as a Sea Mark stood!
Yet still propitious might his voice avail,
And happy Realms returning freedom hail.
His Wisdom still might bid fierce discord cease,
And give the world humanity and Peace.
But should he fail, our gratefull sons will here
Their tribute pay, regret, admire, revere,
Uphold his worth, bear witness to his fame,
And in their annals proudly boast his name.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, September, 1806.
I have scarcely courage to write to you, and to
announce the great, the irreparable loss which the
World has sustained — the sad, sad loss to friends
more attached than almost ever man was blessed
with. Good God! what a change in England since
you left it. It is frightful to think of, and makes me
1 G. died March 30, 1806; Fox, Sept. 13, 1806.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 293
tremble for those precious lives which still must
attach me to life. The probability, however, is that
I shall not have that misfortune added to the rest;
the uncertainty of my own health may secure me
from that. Do not, however, take any alarm, my
dear child, from this expression, for I really am pretty
well, but these events make one low. Nothing can
give an idea of the anxiety about Mr. Fox, for though
his health was seriously affected, he had recovered so
much strength at Chiswick, and was so happy here,
that it was impossible not to flatter oneself that he
might yet recover a considerable degree of health.
The change was sudden and dreadfull; he had slept
pretty well, was cheerfull, went to look at his favourite
pictures in the drawing-room, and returned to his
room to dress and go out; his secretary was reading
to him; he suddenly fell back; an extreme weakness
came on which, with the interval of one day, when
hopes were revived, continued from Monday till
Saturday, when he died.1 He had his senses to the
last, knew his situation. Mrs. Fox asked him if he
would have prayers read, and he said, " Yes, my
love". Whilst they were reading he joined his
hands. He gave ample directions to poor Lord
Holland; to Mrs. Fox he turned with unceasing
tenderness in his countenance, and an hour before
his death said to her, " I die happy, but I pity you".
Most of his intimate friends were at Chiswick. It
was a touching scene to see all those men unable to
suppress their grief, and careless to conceal their
1 When he died— Fox died on Sept. 13. He was buried on October 10 in West-
minster Abbey beside Pitt.
294 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
tears. How they can attend the funeral I know not;
it is to be the tenth of October, and I own I dread
it for the Duke.
October 1st.
. . . The Paris papers say that Jerome is made
a Prince, and divorced that he may marry a Princess
of Wirtemberg. Poor Madame Jerome! Can it be
true also that Moreau is returned to Lisbon; it would
seem very imprudent. The capture of Buenos Ayres
has made a great sensation here, and the treasure has
been lodged at the Bank with great show and pomp.
I hope we shall not lightly give up that settlement or
Miranda. . . . Town will be full for a few days
on account of the funeral of our loved Patriot.
Heavens, that the same year should have witnessed
four of such persons! all, all pre-eminent, for my
loved friend was pre-eminent in beauty, goodness,
and all that can attach or attract. May God pre-
serve those we love, and are still so necessary to our
happiness.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, October 28, 1806.
I have much such accounts to give you as I sent
last year. Scarcely had Lord Morpeth reached
Erfurt when he found that the Queen and the
Ministers were obliged to fly for safety; of course
he did the same, and with great difficulty got back
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 295
to Weimar and Brunswick. The beaten army1 were
flying in all directions, and he was obliged to walk
14 miles, and then to get a sort of cart for the rest
of the journey. At Brunswick they confirmed the
terrible tidings, and the Dutch papers are since come
with horrid details, such as 200 pieces of cannon,
five or six of their best generals wounded and made
prisoners, and, in short, unless it is true that Hohenlohe2
defeated the right wing of the French, I don't see
what is to enable them to make a stand; it is too
shocking, really.
2()tk.
There was an account that the Prussians fought
from three in the morning till five in the evening,
and yet retreated in good order; now the loss of the
French must have been very great also, and if the
Duke of Brunswick3 is not too much wounded to
direct the retreat, perhaps they may still make some
resistance. Lord Morpeth is, I believe, to proceed
to head quarters, wherever they are. This is not
pleasant to dear Georgiana, who is, of course, very
anxious. At home the elections are going on all
over the country. Sir Francis Burdett4 has put in an
advertisement that has offended all parties but a few
Home Tookists, and I believe he will lose his election.
1 The beaten army — The Prussian army utterly routed by Napoleon in the battle
of Jena, October 14, 1806. On the same day another Prussian army was defeated
at Auerstadt (about 14 miles distant) by the French under Davoust, and on the
27th Napoleon entered Berlin.
2 Hohenlohe — Prince Hohenlohe, the Prussian commander in the battle of Jena,
October 14, 1806 (1746-1818).
3 Duke of Brunswick — The Prussian commander at Auerstadt.
4 Sir Francis Burdett — Prominent as a politician of advanced views, and for
thirty years (from 1807) Member of Parliament for Westminster. The election
here referred to was for Middlesex, and Sir Francis was defeated (1770-1844).
296 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
T. Sheridan1 will lose his at Stafford. Sheridan2 is
opposed by Paul, but I do not suppose he can succeed.
Fred Ponsonby stands for Kilkenny. Duncannon
refused, and the Duke brings in Lord Ossulston for
Knaresborough. There is a Mr. Faukes who stands
for Yorkshire, who Lord Fitzwilliam is anxious should
succeed. He is a man of large property, and of un-
common eloquence.
Nov. 3.
Lord Morpeth is returned, and I am afraid Bona-
parte is master of Berlin and Potsdam, and of Sans
Souci. What times! Lord Morpeth went to Erfurt
and Weimar, but was forced to return after the battle
of the 14th had proved so disastrous. He over took
Haugnitz and Luchesini, who were flying also. The
King is gone to Custrin, and the Queen has joined
him there. Where will all this end?
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Washington, Nov. 27, 1806.
Madame J. Bonaparte is in great distress
at Jerome's divorce. She goes no longer out, though
just before he had sent her a great many presents
and desired her to go to all amusements. She
lives at Baltimore, 45 miles from here. The ill-
natured Americans don't pity her. They say she
deserved it for her vanity, and yet not one but had
1 T. Sheridan — Son of R. B. Sheridan. Stafford had been at one time represented
by his father.
2 Sheridan — Richard Brinsley S. The election here referred to was for West
minster, and Sheridan was successful.
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 297
done the same. The French Minister speaks of her
as Mile. Patterson. When Jerome first landed she
declared she would have him, and that she had
rather be Madame Jer. B. one year, though she was
to be nothing afterwards, than marry anyone else.
She did not know she was so near the real event.
Moreau is in New York, and is said to be about
going westward. Miranda is an old woman. A
new character is busy in the Western World — Mr.
Burr,1 the late Vice President of the United States,
of whom you probably will hear more. The public
papers are full of him. No less than a separation of
the Union is said to be his object. Thus for the
last thirty years Revolution will seem to have been
brought on by Revolution, till there remains nothing
to revolutionize. The hope of Peace, I suppose, is
buried with Mr. Fox. To have been present at his
last hours, to have almost caught the last breath of
so great a man expiring in the very house where
you were, must have been very affecting to you.
It is melancholy to see our greatest men cut off in
such numbers just when we have most occasion for
them. However, the spirit of the nation is still
high, and I am convinced that we have more men
of integrity and talent in prominent situations to
boast of than there are in all the world besides.
Here we are feared and respected more than the
rabble Republicans choose to believe or allow of;
but in fact a mere face of anger is all we need shew
to these Democrats, for a long time to come.
1 Mr. Burr— Aaron Burr, of whom more will be heard in subsequent letters
(1756-1838).
298 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, December 2, 1806.
Frederick tells me that he has written all the
great events to you, and I have been doubly glad oi
it, as, from an unavoidable association of ideas, I
have felt lower than usual; the beginning of winter,
so different to every other; the thousand, thousand
circumstances that recall the daily occurrences of so
many years past; the blank, the sad blank, now left
to me; all this presses upon me, and has made me
unfit for writing my dispatch to you. But you, of
all people, almost understand me, and know how to
feel for me.
This year's events have surpassed the last. No
person even knows where the poor King of Prussia
and his beautiful Queen now are. If you had been
told when you was there that Bonaparte would have
been in the Palace at Berlin, possessed of that and
all that country, how little you would have believed
it. He is said to be beyond the Vistula, I mean the
King of Prussia, and that an army of Russians is
hastily approaching; but meanwhile Bonaparte will
give a King to Poland, and perhaps march on to
Petersburgh. He is said to have asked for ships of
the line of the Danes, and that the Sound should be
shut against us. This, I believe, our Lord Nelson has
proved they can't do ; but indeed the state of things
is terrible. However, I hope that we shall extend
our conquests in the new world, and so keep a
balance.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 299
Parliament meets the 15th, and they are to have
no holidays at Christmas. Lord Morpeth is come
in for Cumberland and W. Howard for Morpeth.
William Lamb moves the address. I should think
that he would do it well, but Caroline will be very
nervous. Fred Ponsonby is come in for Kilkenny.
Duncannon idly refused. . . . The clamour of the
hustings is all against Sheridan, and for Paull; he
came here to-day, and was very low. I have the
promise of several votes for him. The Duke makes
his steward exert himself. Even Sir S. Hood is
unpopular. Duncannon was to have been proposed
for Middlesex, but it was thought of too late, and
Mr. Mellish stands.
qth, Midnight.
Sheridan gives up, and Tierney. Sheridan was
struck at and wounded yesterday evening. Mr.
Rhodes' son defended him, and knocked the man
down. He can't stand this unpopularity, and means
to give up. They wanted Duncannon in for it, but
it is too expensive.
A messenger and a Dr. Brown are come from the
King of Prussia, and they report that the King is in
a strong position behind the Oder. The King sent
word he was as well as under his misfortunes he
could be. The army, about 20,000 strong, are there
also. It is said Luchesini went to solicit peace, and
that Bonaparte would not hear of it; that the Duke
of Brunswick sent to ask the neutrality of his
country, and that Bonaparte answered that he did
not recognize such a person as the Duke of Bruns-
wick, and had ordered him to be seized wherever he
300 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
was found. This ferocious answer has obliged th
poor Duke of Brunswick to fly, and he was goin
from Hamburgh to Denmark. I wish he wa
coming to England, that every attention and respec
might be shown him. Lord Morpeth offered to g
again, and was the person they would have ser
again, but they think it best to send a militar
person, and Lord Hutchinson goes. It is trul
anxious and interesting. . . .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
December, 1806.
. . . One line only. They talked here yester
day, some company who dined at Devonshire House
of a plan of sequestration of foreign property ii
retaliation for the British seized at Hamburgh,
hope it won't be. I would not have a stain on th
public faith for worlds of gold. Let us conque
Spanish America with all my heart, but all goo<
faith in publick as in private actions. Say nothing
of it unless you hear it elsewhere, and I hope i
won't be so. The Duchess of Brunswick is, it i
said, out of her senses. No wonder; his death, poo
man, was fortunate for himself, for his life must havi
been misery. The Duke goes with me to Chiswicl
to-day which hurries me so. Poor Chiswick, Chis
wick, where my angel friend delighted to live, anc
where that great man Charles Fox breathed his last
How has this world been impoverished!
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 301
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Washington, Dec. 29, 1806.
. . . Buenos Ayres1 I fear, is retaken. What
will Sir H. Popham be thought of now that the
Spaniards have felt their strength. What 5000 men
might have done a few months back with ease will,
I am afraid, be very problematical. He had good
information as to the state of the place, as his suc-
cess proved, but to retain a town of 70,000 inhabi-
tants required more than 1500 men. Miranda,
whom you seem to be anxious about, is and was to
all appearance when here a mere old woman of a
man, as I believe I wrote long ago to you.
A man of superior abilities is plotting Revolution
in the western part of these States, and occupies
very much the public mind here. Colonel Burr is
a notoriously profligate man, but of very great
address. He has chosen a singularly situated coun-
try as the scene of his ambitious projects, and I
suppose we shall soon see their development or
confusion. The public rumours are that he is en-
gaged in a plot to sever the whole country west of
the Alleghany mountains, in extent near 3000 miles,
from Lake Michigan to New Orleans, from the rest
of the Union, and to form an expedition for the
plunder of Mexico, which is a City of 130,000 in-
habitants, defenceless, and in one of the finest coun-
tries in the world. The Western Country contains
1 Buenos Ayres — It was retaken by the Spaniards in August. The news was
long in travelling.
302 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
not above a few hundred thousand inhabitants, am
those scattered in swamps and villages. New Or
leans, the largest town, has about 8000 inhabitants
but it has the singular advantage of being, as it were
the key to all the countries connected with th<
Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, &c, the only outlet fo:
the commerce of those immense territories, and bid;
fair to be one of the very finest Capitals in the Uni
verse. Immense emigration annually takes place
to those Countries from the Atlantic States. A
Senator of the United States, who travelled lasi
year in Ohio, told me that in two days he hac
counted 105 waggons, each containing a family, or
their way to settle in the woods of the State o:
Ohio. They were chiefly families from beyond the
Hudson river. The Americans give me the idee
of Locusts. They ruin the land as they pass on
and are eternally changing their soil. The mode
of cultivation among them exhausts the earth, anc
they must shift their crops every now and then intc
timber land in order to have them good. Mr,
Burr was Vice-President of the United States 01
President of the Senate when I arrived. It was he
who killed Mr. Hamilton in a duel which was
detailed in all the English papers a little time before
I left England. It will be a sad thing if he succeeds
for the whole Country will then fall in pieces. 1
have written thus much, as you will very likely be
interested about him from the accounts you wil!
probably see in the papers. The Government are
taking measures, and will probably prevent his con-
spiracy from going on, and save these States frorr
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 303
the horrors of a revolution. Nothing has yet been
done openly by Mr. Burr.
Lady Elizabtth Foster
To Augustus F.
Devonshire House, Jan. 6, 1807.
. . . We had yesterday our great debate on
the negotiation.1 It was a curious one, from two
circumstances. Lord Yarmouth and Lord Howick
spoke in direct contradiction to one another, and Mr.
Whitbread thought fit to express his opinion that
peace might have been made. Lord Howick opened
his speech admirably, and his reply, I hear, was
excellent. It was to a malicious, odious speech of
Mr. Perceval,2 and I dare say his Hotspur blood was
boiling in his veins. I long to have you acquainted
with Lord Howick, and to be employed by him; he
is a true Foxite. The debate lasted till near five in
the morning. We supped at Caroline Lamb's at
Whitehall, and about half after one Lord Morpeth,
Lord Granville, Lord Ossulston, and William Lamb
came from the House, the debate then going on.
Fred Ponsonby took the oaths, and when the Speaker
asked him the name of the estate which was to qualify
him3 he could not tell it, which occasioned a laugh.
. . . I have been twice to the Opera. Catalani4
1 The negotiation — Regarding peace with France.
'Mr. Perceval— Spencer P., afterwards Prime Minister from 1809 to 1812 (1762-
1812).
3 To qualify him— At this time the qualification for a county member was an
estate of ^600 a year, and for a borough member one of ^300.
4 Catalani — (1780-1849).
304 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
is as near perfection as any thing can be, not quil
so touching or so handsome as Grassini,1 but sufif
ciently so to please, and she is as wonderful an
more so than Mrs. Billington.2 ... I know ho'
you will feel it, coming to this dear house, where sk
my angel friend, used ever to receive you as if yo
were her son. I believe sometimes the greatness <
the blow prevents our having the power of dwellin
upon it.
I send you the French publication of the Stat
papers. It differs from ours in several things. The
omit the extract from the Emperor's speech, and the
put in a great deal of Talleyrand's answer to M
Fox. I suppose you have the negotiation as pul
lished here. A rumour prevails that Buenos Ayre
is retaken, and though an expedition is gone whic
may take it again, yet it would cause dreadful loss t
the merchants here; it would be bad, too, for poc
Sir Home Popham.
Night.
Fred Ponsonby has given us a very good accour
of the debate; he is in raptures with Lord Howicl
and I never heard anything so liberal as his conduci
Perceval in the last debate had remarked upon som
private letter of Fox's which could not, Minister
said, be shewn; well, Lord Howick, as soon as h
went home, sent Perceval that letter, which he owne
could not be shewn to the House. Could anythini
be more liberal? Yet Perceval last night bega
again as though he had not seen that letter, an
1 Grassini— (1773-1850). 2 Mrs. Billington— {1789-1818).
FROM THE EARL OF ABERDEEN. 305
with base insinuations. Lord Howick, almost
trembling with rage, vindicated his lost friend, and
reminded Perceval that he had sent him the papers,
which he had refused the House. The House quite
murmured at Perceval's conduct, and Canning was
most liberal in his praise of Lord Howick's conduct
and nobleness of mind. The papers have given the
debate wretchedly. . . .
The Earl of Aberdeen
To Augustus Foster.
The PRiORY,/ia:«. 13, 1807.
Dear Augustus, — Although I am quite persuaded
that there is no chance of my silence, however long,
being interpreted by you to signify in the slightest de-
gree intentional neglect, yet I will honestly mention a
few facts, although they tend very little to a justifica-
tion. Mr. Pitt's death quite rendered me incapable at
the usual time; the poor Duchess soon followed, and
then came the anxieties of Lord Melville's trial. On
his acquittal I should indeed have written. The
summer passed I do not know how in Scotland, and
the dissolution of Parliament gave me full employ-
ment. You may have heard of my success,1 which
was somewhat remarkable, being the only candidate
who came in against the exertions of Government.
Very little has as yet been done in Parliament,
but we shall shortly be very active; there will be
1 My success — Lord Aberdeen was elected a Scotch representative peer on Dec.
4, 1806.
U
306 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
motions of Inquiry on several subjects, and from i
we hear it is very probable the late treaty betwee
this country and America will furnish matter, fc
although the particulars are still unknown, it is t
no means popular, the general opinion being that v
shall be found to have made too great concession
indeed, what has transpired tends to confirm this.
The final discussions respecting the slave trac
will come on in about a fortnight; no doubt is ente
tained of the abolition being carried, which, I shou
think, would materially affect the Americans or
way or other.
I give you joy of a new Emperor in your neig]
bourhood; do on your return take a view of Chri
tophe and his capital. Your old friend Jerome
acting a considerable part in Poland, where matte,
are very near a crisis. Bonaparte is in a mo
perilous situation. If the Russians continue wis
he cannot hold out till spring, and there is a fa
chance of his destruction. Reports of sickness i
his army, though probably much exaggerated, ai
believed. Some faint hopes are entertained <
Austria. No one apprehends much from the d<
claration of a blockade. You cannot easily imagir
how great my pleasure was on your brother's tellin
me the other day that you were coming home. M
desire of seeing you again has been now so muc
increased by the time of your absence, in addition I
the great distance which separated you from u
When you return I will not say that you are to fin
me with a son and heir, but in two or three wee!
something will certainly be produced, but of wh;
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 307
gender it would not be so easy to determine. Pray
let me hear from you about the reality of your
motions, and believe me, most affectionately,
Aberdeen.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, Jan. 21, 1807.
. . . The papers are filled merely with rumours,
first of a Russian victory, and then of Buenos Ayres
being taken and not being taken, so that bets are
nearly even on the subject. Ministers have been
abused for sending the telegraphic account of its
recapture, but how could they do otherwise. How-
ever, it has caused great alarm in the city and pro-
vincial towns. The reports are various, too, about
the disposition of America towards England. . . .
Caroline Lamb is with child, but her uncertain health
prevents one's knowing what is her state, or almost
what to hope.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, March 3, 1807.
Corisande is already very big — come ti sta il
cuore? placido e sicuro io spero. We have nearly
finished the grand work of abolition of the Slave
Trade; it was carried 283 to 16. The remaining
discussions are merely for compensation and such
things. Yesterday an uncommon degree of anxiety
308 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
and curiosity was excited by Paull's Petition against
Sheridan,1 which went to accusing him of tampering
with the witness, but such a set as Paull brought in,
so low, so vulgar, so contradictory in their accounts,
that it turned the whole thing in Sheridan's favor,
and if nothing unforeseen happens, two days hence
he will be triumphant. There is a report of the
French having beat the Russians. This is a sad
disappointment, but it is also said that the Turks
have made peace again with the Russians, so there
is bad and good. We have a squadron opposite the
Seraglio. . . .
Augustus Foster
To Lady Elizabeth Foster.
Washington, March 31, 1807.
. . . The President means to retire after the
next year. He is wonderfully popular at present,
and may do nearly what he likes. Burr, the con-
spirator, is arrested, and to be tried at Richmond, in
Virginia. His grand plot ended in the seizure of his
nine boats and fifty men and boys. He was betrayed,
as is said, by some of his accomplices, and as he had
assembled them from amongst the ruined and the
unprincipled, it was what he might expect. The
opposition in England seem miserably weak in their
attacks. Lord Castlereagh's argument that if France
included America in her Decree, England should
1 Paull's Petition against Sheridan— In connection with the result of the recent
Westminster election, at which Sheridan was returned.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 309
punish her, and if America was not included in the
Decree, that she should be equally punished for
connivance, was not lost here. To advance such
nonsense can proceed from nothing but impatience
at being out of office; it cannot be surely from any
sound principles of opposition. Were I an opposi-
tionist before, the shallowness visible in such paltry
attacks would induce me to cling to the Government.
Lord Hawkesbury seems more manly. Canning is
all froth and smoke and noise. I cannot see the
statesman in his speeches. His wit and stories and
pleasantry seem to me misplaced in debating gravely
upon great National questions. Lord Howick's
speech is indeed very manly and dignified, just what
the organ of a great Nation, such as, I trust, we still
consider ourselves to be, should be. . . .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, May 6, 1807.
. . . We are in the midst of elections again,
and London scarcely possesses a Beau worth speak-
ing to. What is worse, the Ministers have raised a
cry about Popery, which has taken possession of the
lower class, and blinded them to their best interests.
I think it an unworthy measure of the Ministers, and
one they will some day repent of. In Derbyshire
they told Lord George C. they would vote for him,
but they would worship no golden images; in Liver-
pool Roscoe has given up the contest. A friend of
310 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
his was on horseback, and a man from the opposite
crowd rushed out and stabbed the horse of the other
to the heart : the man was hurt, and another wounded.
At St. Albans, where Duncannon is candidate, they
say it is a pity so good a lady as Lady Spencer should
wish to bring the Pope to England; it is really shock-
ing to see Religion made such a tool of, and the
King's speech an electioneering cry. Your brother
is at St. Albans canvassing for Duncannon; so is
George Lamb. . . . You will see by the papers
Sir F. Burdett's duel with Mr. Paull. It has hurt
Paull's interest, and I believe he has no chance of
succeeding for Westminster, but that Sir F- Burdett
will come in with acclamation. Sheridan has played
his cards ill. He can't attempt Westminster,1 and
having forsaken Stafford before, he now only comes
in for a borough in the Prince's interest. His over-
weening vanity has been his ruin. Pray read Lord
Grenville's letter to the Society for propagating the
Christian Religion; it is reckoned a very fair one.
. . . We have failed at Constantinople, and the
negotiation seems to have been sadly mismanaged.
There should be no threatening or bullying, but
when anchored, like Nelson, close to the walls of the
Enemy's Capital, you can destroy it, but to menace
and not do it is sad business.
Lady Aberdeen is recovered in great beauty from
her lying in. Lord Grenville goes to Russia as soon
as his election is over. I am afraid Duncannon will
lose his.
1 He can't attempt Westminster — Sheridan was a candidate at this new election,
but failed, being behind Sir F. Burdett and Lord Cochrane (afterwards Earl of
Dundonald).
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 311
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, Oct. 18, 1807.
. . . Your friend Merry is gone, as I told you,
to Copenhagen, but I believe we must make up our
minds to have the Danes our enemies, nor should I
much regret it. The quantity of stores seem to
indicate most forcibly for what reason they were
collected, and their own conduct to Hamburgh in 1801
takes from them the title of an innocent and unoffend-
ing people, since with far less pretext they did by
H amburgh what we have done by them. I hope Russia
is favourable to us. The Country certainly is, but
Alexander has been duped by Bonaparte, and given
up his conquests just as he had nearly destroyed the
Turks. The fate of Portugal is at present the pro-
minent interest. Suza told Mr. Motteux that he
believed that his Government meant to go to South
America, and that six sail of the line were to sail
from Plymouth to escort them ; but people still think
that they will make their peace. How extraordinary
it would be if they should migrate to the Brazils!
At home party is likely to be violent and Ministers
secure, since the success of the Baltic expedition.
The Prince has given up politicks, is good friends
with the King, and lives but for Lady Hertford.
C'est vrai je t' assure; a 50 ans pres elle a captive' le
Prince. II ne vit, ne respire que pour elle et par
elle; la ci-devant amie est inquiete et triste. Je la
plains, car c'est une bonne personne qui n'a jamais
abuse de son pouvoir; as to the Duchess of Bruns-
312 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
wick, you hear no more of her than if she was in
Holstein.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick,/<w2. i, 1808.
. . . Nothing but Spain hardly is talked or
thought of. The moment is to us interesting beyond
all former periods, as besides the great interest which
every body feels about the Spaniards, the having an
English Army now actually joined, and with, and
ready to co-operate with them, brings the war home
to every body's feelings. I had letters from Penn
to-night, which state that Opadaca had accounts of
Madrid having resisted for three days. The French
were repulsed over and over, and lost a great many
men. Ch. and Morla retreated with the regulars,
who with Castanos,1 it is hoped, will make a strong
army. From Galicia you will see accounts are every
day expected of an action. In the English army, of
persons whom we all know, are two Cavendishes,
three Bentincks, Fred Howard, and though last not
least in interest, Corise's brother. The Duke of
Rutland's two brothers also are there, and, in short,
many of our English nobility. Lord Morpeth is in
a state of great nervousness about his brother, and,
indeed, the moment is a most anxious one.
1 CastaHos — The most distinguished of the Spanish generals in the Peninsular
War (1756-1852).
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 313
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, Nov. 9, 1S08.
We are all struck with the style of Bona-
parte's speech to the Legislative Body and of their
reply. They express a kind of foreboding of ill
which, if not dictated by himself as a loophole to him,
would have made him angry.
10th.
I have just seen two very interesting letters of
Mr. Gell's, and he confirms all my hopes. The report
of to-night is that Austria has declared war, and that
Bonaparte is returned to Paris, but this I can scarcely
believe. Blake is said to have had a sharp engage-
ment with Ney,1 and that the latter retreated eight
leagues. How I long to hear of Vittoria or Pam-
pluna being taken or some of the strong passes of
the Pyrenees.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To A ugustus Foster.
Chiswick, Nov. 28, 1808.
I have had little heart or pleasure in
writing latterly, as our dear Spaniards have met with
sad reverses. I hope, however, that all may be
retrieved, and since our troops are gone, that we may
turn aeain the tide of affairs. We have now been
o
a terrible length of time without hearing, and that is
1 Ney— Marshal N. (1769-1815).
3 14 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
always, I think, a bad sign. Oh, dear, it is too hard
really, and when one sees the nook into which they
were driven, I could sit down and cry to see the
strides that they have made towards Madrid again.
Still, however, if the Spaniards bear being beat they
will ultimately conquer. I think they must. You
have, I hope, arrived to hear of some advantages
gained by the Swedes, who certainly are the next
most interesting people.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, December 7, 1808.
I had hoped to have something favourable to send
you, my dearest Augustus, regarding Spain, but all
is anxiety, and to a great degree doubt in that
quarter; yet I hope still, so does Lady Melbourne,
so does, which is better worth attending to, General
Ferguson. Blake, it is certain, has shewed great
skill, and his army great courage and steadiness, and
if this spirit continues I have no doubt of the result.
Bonaparte has made some of his rapid movements,
but I do not think that he has gone on with a pas de
geant as he used to do. Never, however, was there
greater anxiety felt than now, for it is supposed that
he means to push forward in order to prevent the
junction of our armies, and this may expose both to
be attacked by a very superior force. Lord Morpeth
is very anxious about his brother, who is with Baird.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 315
tth.
I had better send this off, for bad news comes so
quick now that the sooner it goes the better. Our
dear Spaniards fight bravely, but I fear that skill
and numbers are on the side of the French. The
detested Bonaparte has advanced, and meanwhile
has directed a blow against Castanos, which, I fear, has
been successful. They still hold firm at Madrid, and
it is said that General Hope's Brigade has reached
the Escurial, and has joined the army of defence for
Madrid, but will they be able to stop Bonaparte's
career? Oh, dear Augustus, what a sad reverse,
and what reason one had to dread the arrival in
Spain of that Tyrant. . . .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, Dec. io, 1808.
. . . I trust that there are good hopes about
Finland; that the brave Swedes may resist the bar-
barous Russians. If Turkey makes peace with us
perhaps they may make a powerful diversion and
occupy the Russian troops. How you will grieve
over the dear Spaniards. God knows what will be
done if yet they can make a stand, but next to the
misery which they are exposed to, one feels for the
National disgrace to us of boasting for three months
of the great armed force we send to their assistance,
and then these armies retreating without firing a gun
in their defence. I can't bear to think of it. The only
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 317
is concentrating his forces. God only knows what
will be the result; we must hope for the best; and I
suppose that Bonaparte does not think himself quite
secure by his ordering so many more troops.
2yd.
. . More troops are going, and if we send at
all we should certainly send largely. We fight and
dispute: I mean Lady Bessborough and me. Some
accuse generals, others ministers. Some say Spanish
enthusiasm is less, but if it is it is our fault, who
have not yet fired one gun in their defence except
at Rosas, and even that we have allowed to be taken.
However, I am not so much in suspicion of ministers'
want of activity as Moore. He seems to be over
cautious, a bad quality with Bonaparte for an enemy.
I hope there is no danger for Sweden itself. They
are a fine race of people, and their King deserves
to have his fortunes favored with success. . . .
Lord Liverpool is dead, and, I suppose, died very
rich. ... I hear that he has left this Lord L.1
at least ;£ 10,000 a year.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
CHISWICK, January 29, 1809.
. . . Great and brilliant as was the victory which
we gained at Corunna, yet the having been obliged
to retreat, and the North of Spain being in this
manner almost entirely conquered by the French, we
1 This Lord L. — The second Earl of Liverpool, husband of the writer's sister.
3l8 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
must consider the Campaign as a most unfortunate
one. To you, who will know the result of the
different operations, and have not passed the interval
of dreadfull anxiety which we all did during the
retreat of our army, every thing will, I suppose, seem
as bad as possible, except that there is this fact, put
out of all doubt, that when we do meet the French
we always beat them, even with an inferior force,
and even Bonaparte can't deny our having obtained
the victory; and all military men say no retreating
army can embark if it is not victorious at the point
of embarkation. Sir John Moore is a great loss, and
is sincerely and generally regretted; but, unwilling
as one feels to say any thing against an officer who
died so bravely, yet people seem to think that his
plan was a bad one, and that to the decision of
marching 400 miles to the army he was to co-operate
with instead of landing close to them has been the
cause of all the reverses. The troops have returned
exhausted with fatigue, but their spirit and bravery
at the battle of Corunna exceeds all belief. The
Cavalry distinguished themselves in the retreat,
always attacking and defeating the enemy. The
infantry hung their heads and murmured whilst
retreating and not allowed to fight. At Corunna
they had their revenge, and literally drove the
French before them, who for 14 hours never ap-
peared, and they embarked without leaving a man
or a piece of artillery behind them. I am told that
troops are to go to Cadiz and Minorca and Gibraltar
to assist the South. When Moore in his dying
moments asked who the command fell on, he was
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 319
told General Hope. He said, " I am satisfied; there
does not exist an abler officer ". I am afraid, poor
man, that he knew that the people of England had
been dissatisfied at the army not having ever joined
the Spaniards or encountered the French, but he
shewed, as all say, the utmost skill in his retreat and
in the order of battle. Lord Paget . . .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Atigustus Foster.
Chiswick, Feb. 5, 1809.
. . . All goes on ill, and the new year
ushers itself in with a bad grace. Barcelona is
relieved, and I am afraid Zaragossa is reduced to
the last extremity, though all that can be done will
be accomplished by Palafox.1 I think that even those
who regret General Moore the most, and all do regret
him, are sorry that he adopted so inactive a line of
conduct. The great subject of dispute now is his
last dispatch; opposition have asked for it, and Mr.
Whitbread told me to-day that Ministers said, that
is, Canning told him, that they would publish all or
nothing, and that he advised him, Mr. Whitbread,
to consult with his friends and be fully aware of the
consequence, for that one half of the letter was abuse
of the Spaniards, and the other half of his own army;
that at the end he says that when there was fighting
he ever found them at their post, and with a deter-
1 Palafox — Spanish general, celebrated for his heroic defence of Saragossa against
the French (1780-1847).
320 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
mined bravery. Whitbread still seemed inclined to
have the letter published, and General Stewart seems
to have answered without consulting with his brother,
and to have encouraged the giving of the letter. I
do like General Stewart; he seems to be such a
spirited creature, so brave and yet so mild and
affectionate.
6th.
The Morpeths dined with us to-day. There was
no news. The expedition had been dispersed, and
we have no accounts from Spain. I always dread a
bulletin after a pause. . . . The Duke of York's
business you will see enough of in the papers. I do
not believe that any body thinks that he shared in
her profit, but one regrets seeing him in such bad
company, and not being so generous as he ought to
be to a woman who had lived with him. It seems
strange that there should be no account of the French
entering Portugal yet, and in Spain their tyranny is
intolerable. Would that we had sent succour sooner
to Catalonia and every-where. I hear that Ministers
answer to this that they could not send our army
before their Government was formed, and that they
quarrelled among themselves.
i$th.
I have waited in hopes of hearing from you, and
of something being decided about the Duke of York.
Neither of these things have happened. I suppose
the ice still incloses you, and the examinations still
go on about Mrs. Clark. I can't help hoping that
something favourable may come out for the Duke of
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 32 1
York, at least that her character is so bad that her
accusations may be doubted, and if not proved I
shall doubt. Cavallos is arrived, and Opadaca's wife.
I hope that the Spaniards have had some success in
Catalonia, and that Romana is safe in Portugal.
Does not his retreat show that we could have re-
treated had General Moore adopted that plan ?
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, Feb. 25, 1809.
. . . We have had an eventfull time. You
were not advised, I think, in your news beyond the
retreat of our army, and bad as the retreat was, yet
you will be pleased with the battle of Corunna and
proud of the valour displayed by our army. Since
that the French have done little. Saragossa, it is
said, still holds out, and not only that, but that the
immortal Palafox, the noble Palafox, has again re-
pulsed the French. I trust, therefore, that all is not
desperate, and that a nation of brave peasants may
yet check and withstand the disciplined barbarians
of France. The preparations of Austria have
occupied the attention of Bonaparte, and may, I
hope, lessen his armies in Spain. I hope, too, that
we are sending more troops there, and with a more
active commander, though perhaps not a better
officer, and there could not be a braver. Sweden,
Austria, and Spain have, however, all been forgot in
the inquiry that has taken place in consequence of
322 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Mr. Wardle's and Mrs. Clarke's accusation of the
Duke of York. Nothing I ever remember made
the sensation which this has done ; opinions are very
different, and, what is more extraordinary, parties are
violent in favor of Mrs. Clarke, and yet, as Lord
Grey justly says, however people may differ about
the Duke of York, who can doubt of her being a
most malignant and profligate woman ? Yet subscrip-
tions are open for her in the city and amongst
gentlemen. It is really disgusting.
March i si.
The Brest fleet was out, and the croakers had
already talked of it as on its way to Ireland, but to-
day accounts are received of its having slunk into
Basque roads on seeing our squadron at Rochefort.
Poor Lord Falkland is killed in a duel with a Mr.
Powel, a man whom every body was in the habit of
scoffing at, and who at last revenged all his quarrels
on Lord Falkland.
Lady Elisabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, March, 1809.
. The examination of Mrs. Clarke has
proved a more serious thing than you seem to think
it, for it is now said, even by those who wish best to
the Duke of York, and who acquit him of all corrup-
tion, that his remaining Commander in Chief is
impossible from the weakness with which he was
governed and influenced by so base a woman. Your
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 323
brother and some others rejoice in this proof of the
strength of the democracy in England, others regret
all that has passed, and most think it a hard fate for
a little blindness pour les beaux yeux.
They expect to take the King's opinion Wednesday,
if they can carry the acquittal of corruption. They
then, I hear, want the Duke to resign.1 This I should
think best. Saragossa's fate is still, I believe, un-
decided. . . .
Devonshire House, April 17, 1809.
The papers mention Armfeldt2 being Commander
in Chief, and that he had sent word to Sir T. Hood
that they wished to remain at peace with us. Is
this so? His poor friend Ruggerdorff has been
sent away, to his great inconvenience and sorrow. I
wish I knew the truth about him. I can't help pity-
ing the poor King, but I really Relieve that he was
a little mad. We are going on here in a very odd
manner. The spirit of reform is abroad and strikes
to the right and left. . . . The Peninsula, I
fear, goes ill. In some respects, better so far that
Gallicia seems roused, and Romana is again in some
force, but to the South the enemy advance, and
unless we can defeat them in Portugal I shall also
begin to despair of success. I have seen Lord St.
Vincent,3 and he says that Admiral Harvey has de-
manded a Court Martial on Lord Gambier. Gam-
1 Want the Duke to resign — The Duke of York had to resign his post of Com-
mander-in-Chief, though a select committee of the House of Commons acquitted
him of any corrupt practices. His services to the army had been very valuable,
and he was reinstated in 1811.
2 Armfelt — Gustav Mauritz A., a celebrated Swede (1757-1814).
3 Lord St. Vincent — John Jervis, Earl of St. Vincent, the celebrated admiral
(1734-1823).
324 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
bier had sent him home to be tried, and he makes
this return, and on serious accusations. Gambier is
a brave man, but too much of a psalm-singing man,
says Lord St. Vincent, though psalm-singing is a
good thing, he says; but, as we both agreed, keep
to the beautiful doctrine of the Bible, and you
will .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, April 23, 1809.
We go on from one reform to another, till I
suppose that we shall be the purest of governments
and Parliaments. To-day Lord Archibald1 makes
his motion about Lord Castlereagh,2 and it is sup-
posed, poor man, that he must resign; had he quitted
his situation before, it would have been a good thing,
as his dilatoriness caused sad delay in the expedi-
tions. He is a good-natured man, and I wish he
had been removed for any other reason than that he
goes out upon. . . .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, May 1, 1809.
In these eventful times I write oftener to you, as
you must wish to know all that is passing. The
1 Lord Archibald— -Lord A. Hamilton brought forward unsuccessfully a motion
of censure upon Lord Castlereagh for his abuse of Indian patronage.
5 Lord Castlereagh — See Appendix.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 325
surprise caused by the appointment of Lord Wellesley1
was very great. I had known it, but dared not say
any thing; but from the Opera every body came so
full of it, and all expressing great surprise. Last
night Lord Ossulston said it was the deepest intrigue
possible; never was there such a thing; and as to
Lord Grey having been sent for, what could that be
for? what good could he do? he had better stay in
Northumberland. Mr. Tierney and Lord Robert
were with me in the morning. Mr. Tierney thinks
that Lord Castlereagh will go out Wednesday.
Lord Morpeth saw him in the House to-day, and
looking, as he thought, very dismayed. I am sorry
for him; he is a good-natured man, and will feel the
want of place more than most people; but yet I am
afraid he was a corrupt politician, and in this reform-
ing age corruption can't escape. Lord Auckland
brings on his famous motion, or rather infamous, not
to receive any bill of divorce unless it is clogged with
a clause that the parties can't marry. What can this
do but encourage men to seduce a woman, and was
ever any woman debarred from sacrificing herself
from motives of self-interest? They say that the
Commons are (in case it is passed) determined to
bring in a Bill not to pass any Bill where such a
clause is introduced, so that there can be no divorce.
That something should be done all agree, but not
what that should be. As to news there was a firing
heard, which it is feared was for a victory over the
Austrians. This would be sad indeed. In Spain
1 The appointment of Lord Wellesley — As ambassador to Spain.
326 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
things go better, and some people are sanguine
enough to look to Soult's1 being taken.
2nd.
Here is Daniel come with an account from Brooks
that the division was 78 to 98, but he don't know
which way; how provoking, and the papers are not
out. If Lord Castlereagh should go out, I dare say
there will be some further changes still to surprise
Lord Ossulston, and it is acknowledged that the
Administration was too weak for it to go on.
After all, the debate on Lord Auckland's motion,
or rather Lord A.'s motion, was not that day. It
was carried by twelve only, I think. Lord Castle-
reagh is not out yet, but as Lord Temple's motion
about Spain was put off, it is supposed to be owing
to that. Lady Castlereagh gives a party to-morrow,
and invites all her foes. Nothing further from Ger-
many. In Sweden we hear that you mean to try the
King.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Brocket Hall, May 22, 1809.
. . . To-day the Tower guns fired for the
taking of Oporto and defeating Soult. Lord Arthur2
is said to be pursuing him. The passage of the
river was, I hear, one of the most brilliant things
ever done; as usual, however, opposition, I am sorry
1 Soult — Marshal (1769-1851). The occupation of Oporto, the passage of the
Douro, and the retreat of Soult, were the first incidents of Wellington's brilliant
career in the Peninsula.
2 Lord Arthur — Lord Arthur Wellesley, afterwards Duke of Wellington (1769-
1852).
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 327
to say, are depreciating it. What a pity it is always
to do this! Ministers have been in a minority two
nights running, one on Lord Burgersh's promotion,1
the other on a further grant to Palmer. I am quite
a Wellesleyite. I must say that I am grieving for
the poor King of Sweden, whom, if he must be
confined, why disinherit his poor children? What
times we live in!
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
May 31, 1809.
Still no accounts; the anxiety is very great; should
Soult attack Beresford2 again before Lord Wellesley's
reinforcements reach him, the worst may be appre-
hended. How shocking it is that we are always
obliged to fight with inferiority of numbers.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, June 1, 1809.
. . . Bonaparte is again at Vienna. However,
I do not think this time that the Emperor will make
peace without the Archduke's leave, and the last
French bulletin holds out no certainty of being able
to destroy the Archduke. In Spain there has been
* Lord Burgersh— Afterwards eleventh Earl of Westmoreland (1784-1859).
2 Beresford — Viscount B. His chief service in the Peninsular War was the re-
organization of the Portuguese army (1768-1854).
328 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
some disaster in the Asturias. I hope our friend
Materosa has behaved well, but the Junta, they say,
have not. We are very anxious to hear more of Sir
A. Wellesley. At home you will see that they have
been obliged to rescind Burghersh's promotion, and
Col. Shipley in consequence gave up his resolutions.
He paid some compliments to Lord Burghersh.
Corruptions have been proved that perfectly disgust
one, and I hope they will steadily, but with modera-
tion, persevere.
Baron d' Arm felt
To Augustus Foster.
ST. PETERSBOURG, ce l^juin, 1 809.
On m'a dit ici, mon aimable ami, que vous etes
parti de Stockholm le 7 — j'en suis au desespoir, car
dans 8 jours je suis stir d' avoir eu des choses impor-
tantes a vous communiquer.
Mais je n'ai que le terns de vous dire, que nous
sommes dans une crise violente ici. L'Empereur est
a Tver, chez sa soeur la Duchesse d'Oldenbourg,
cette Soeur revient ici aussi que l'Empereur dans la
semaine prochaine. . . . La Duchesse est charmante,
une bonne tete, detestee de Bonaparte et le detestant
de meme, elle a tout L'esprit de la grande Catharine
mais helas! pas son experience — On est diablement
mal ici pour les finances, mais cette operation-ci rame-
neroit le Credit public, et ceux qui cachent aujourd'hui
leurs Roubles, les sortiroient alors de leurs coffres
forts. Dans 2 ou 10 jours ceci sera decide ou manque.
Mon affair d'argent Test, on me recevoit (?) a Berlin,
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 329
et si je n'etois pas victime de — tous les Diables,
j'irois la et je verrois L'Allemagne — partout je suis
mieux qu'en Suede jusqu'a ce que les choses ont pris
la forme qu'il faut. Gisman est parti sans que j'ai
pu l'atteindre, la ville est deserte et j'ecris des me-
moires — il n'y a que l'ennui qui en profite — Mettez
moi aux pieds de Madame votre mere et ne m'oubliez
pas. Vava.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Angus ~tus Foster.
Devonshire House,/z*/j/ 3, 1809.
. . . I hope the Russians are not advancing
upon you. Fortune seems to coquet it a little just
now with our allies, and one more good, decided
victory of the Archduke Charles, and much may in-
deed be hoped for. All in the North of Germany
are rising, and the Tyrolese have emulated the
Spaniards. The accounts from Spain to-day are
good. The French are driven out of Ferrol and
Corunna. Sir Arthur keeps Victor1 at Bay, and he
will soon, I dare say, proceed to Spain, and I hope
they will finally be driven out: now is the time,
whilst Bonaparte is in Germany and sending for all
the troops that he can from France.
July ^th.
To-day the account is confirmed about Ferrol and
Corunna, and the defeat of the French under Ney
by the Spaniards under General Curera. Two of
our officers were in the action, and speak highly of
' Victor— Marshal V. (1766-1841).
330 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
the Spanish bravery and zeal. Souk's army seems
to have been nearly destroyed by Sir Arthur
Wellesley. The Duke of Brunswick has an increas-
ing army, and the Duke of Dantzig was defeated by
the Tyrolese. At home Col. Wardle has been ac-
cused by Mrs. Clarke of bribing her by a promise of
fine furniture to accuse the Duke of York and then
to have left it unpaid. He lost his suit, and there-
fore declares that she is perjured and ought not to
be believed. This is curious enough.
6th.
Mrs. Clarke is indicted for perjury, but the jury
have not decided upon it. If she is perjured it
weakens her evidence against the Duke of York; if
she is not it more totally is the ruin of Col. Wardle's
character and popularity; it is a strange business
altogether.
ytk.
One more day, but not much of news. All that
there is seems good, and the French are, I believe,
returning to their former position on the Ebro, but I
trust that they will not be allowed to stay there.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To A ugustus Foster.
Devonshire House, July 14, 1809.
. . . We are in anxious expectation of more
news from the Continent, and conjecture is at work
about our own expedition.1 Heaven knows where it
1 Our own expedition— -The unfortunate Walcheren expedition.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 33 1
is going. It takes away all the remaining society of
London, and is an immense armament. Lord Paget1
goes with it, which is the best thing that could happen
for him after all that has passed. I am in hopes that
all goes well for our dear Spaniards, and if the pre-
sent moment can be profited of, they will, I hope, be
free. I have the greatest faith in Sir Arthur Wellesley.
At home the only changes perceptible to the vulgar
eye are Lord Granville Leveson in the Cabinet and
Secretary at War, Lord Harrowby (your friend) an
Earl and of the Cabinet, and of the Board of Con-
troul. Lord Wellesley goes to Spain as soon as he
is well enough, and at his return is, as is rumoured,
to be Minister of War. . . .
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, July 20, 1809.
We are waiting with the greatest anxiety for more
news from the Danube, and the report to-night of a
firing on the Dutch and French coast adds very
much to our anxiety and apprehensions. It would
be too shocking now for the Archduke Charles to be
defeated, and yet it is more probable that he should
than that Bonaparte should. Our expedition is ex-
pected to sail to-morrow or next day, but where is
the question.
1 Lord Paget — Afterwards first Marquis of Anglesey and Field Marshal. He
commanded an infantry division in the expedition (1768-1854).
332 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
2 1 St.
Still the report of a firing continues, and I am
terrified. I wish that we could have sent a powerful
diversion sooner, and why now to stop to take Capri
and Ischia instead of sending succour to Catalonia;
however, I hope and suppose that they know better
than I do. Mr. Wardle is a wreck of popularity;
his is all gone, and I rejoice at it. I always thought
that his conduct was odious, and it has now been
proved so.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, July 29.
You augured too well, dearest Augustus, from the
silence and absence of couriers from the Danube.
We may consider every thing now as over,1 I am
afraid, and it is difficult to understand even by the
French accounts how it could be necessary for the
Archduke to solicit an Armistice. You cannot con-
ceive any thing like the gloom which it spread here,
and even the success which is expected from our
expedition don't seem to afford ground of hope for
any good to the Continent. Bonaparte's army did
not fight better than the Archduke Charles', but he
outwitted him. Your letter was a delightful one,
and every expression of your affection to me is a
source of comfort and happiness to me. I have
great pride in your present situation, as I am sure
1 This evidently refers to the battle of Wagram.
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 333
you are doing yourself credit; it is a difficult one,
too, and therefore the more is it to your credit.
Much as I admire the Swedes, I can't reconcile
myself to their excluding the young Prince, so fine a
boy too! Is it true that the King has asked permis-
sion to go to Switzerland ?
Monday, 31J/.
I am assured to-night that accounts are come of
Flushing having surrendered and all the Island of
Walcheren, and some say that they willingly sur-
rendered, but that the French fleet were gone up
the Scheldt. I suppose we shall follow, and Fort (?)
Lillo and Antwerp will, I fear, be tougher work.
However, our force is a strong one; would that it
had gone a month, or even a fortnight sooner.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
. . . I have opened my letter to say that I am
frightened about Flushing. The French have
thrown in reinforcements who made a sortie. We
drove them back, but with a loss of 200 men; Major
Thornton wounded. Lord Huntly, (and Hope, I
think) have taken all South Beveland, but my fear
is that by Flushing1 holding out that Antwerp and
Fort (?) Lillo may be reinforced also. Lord W.
Bentinck and H. Cavendish are going to Spain.
1 Flushing — Taken August i6, 1809.
334 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, August 14, 1809.
Now, my dear Augustus, walk about the streets
of Stockholm with looks of pride and exultation, bear
high your head, and glory in being a Briton. The
Tower guns have announced to-day the glorious vic-
tory gained by our favourite, Sir Arthur Wellesley.
It was, as he says himself, a fearful odds, but followed
by complete success. Twenty pieces of cannon,
four eagles, and 10,000 slain of the French bear
testimony to this. Sebastiani1 wounded, two generals
killed, and two others wounded; Joseph2 a witness to
his defeat. The dear English alone were engaged,
but it is said that the Spaniards are pursuing the
defeated French army. Pray God that they may
profit of the confusion and dismay the French seem
to have experienced, and if they imitate their
countrymen at Zaragossa and Gerona they will do
so. F. Ponsonby, who is in the 23rd Dragoons, was
in the thickest of the fight, and is safe, Thank
Heaven! Lady Bessborough heard the report of
the battle before she left Chiswick this morning, and
set off, as you will believe, in great anxiety. Only
yesterday she and I and Lady Granville had been
fighting with Mr. Vernon, and he was saying that he
wished Sir Arthur back again, that he believed
indeed that he could not advance from want of shoes
and money, and that his situation was a most perilous
* Sebastiani — Marshal S. , born in Corsica (1776-1851).
2 Joseph — Jos. Bonaparte, eldest brother of Napoleon (1768-1844).
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 335
one. To Lady Melbourne he said he hoped she was
not John Bull enough to believe that we could fight
the French with such inferiority of numbers. She
said she longed to see him again to triumph over
him. Here were we with about 20,000 against fully
forty thousand French. Perhaps you will hear fuller
and better accounts, but good news bears a repeti-
tion. How it makes one regret that Sir John Moore
did not trust more to English valour and hazard a
battle sooner. The battle was, you see, at Talavera1
la Regina. Cuesta was said to be following them
and Varegas to have advanced to Toledo and Aran-
juez. Is it true your Prince Augustenbourg has
refused the sovereignty of Sweden, that the
Russians have had a check, and that our squadron
has done good service ? The weather has been sad
for the expedition, and they anxiously wait for news
from thence.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, August 2i, 1809.
. . . I should like your plan of marrying one
of our Princesses in Sweden much better if it did not
confirm the setting aside the poor young Prince,
which I do think a great act of injustice. However,
I will say that I should think that the Princess Mary2
would suit your Prince Regent perfectly, and I
1 Talavera — The battle was fought on July 27 and 28, 1809.
2 Princess Mary — Daughter of George III., afterwards married to her cousin the
Duke of Gloucester (1776-1857).
336 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
should think that she would be a happier person
than living to be an old maid. ... I hope you
have heard by this time of the surrender of Flushing,
and got my letter about the battle of Talavera. The
French have ventured to talk of it as a victory, and
to date from Talavera on the 29th, though Sir
Arthur Wellesley, who writes his last dispatch on
the first of August, states that the French had re-
treated beyond St. Olalla. This is the most extra-
ordinary lie they have yet ventured on. The report
of to-day is that the Armistice is broke, that the
Archduke Charles has resigned, and that Prince
John of Lichtenstein is to command the army. I
think that Russia ought to be jealous of French
colours in Galicia.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, August 28, 1809.
. . . As to news I am almost in despair. It
seems to me that by thus dividing our forces we do
nothing well or effectually, and the only large one
which we have sent was commanded by so dull and
slow a man that it must fail, while dear Sir Arthur,
who should command hundreds of thousands, has a
small army of 20,000 to meet 70,000 French, for I
much fear that as yet we can only reckon on the
Spaniards when behind walls or for cutting off small
parties. Sir Arthur, it is said, went to meet Soult,
relying on Cuesta's promise to guard Talavera, but
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 337
that very evening Cuesta arrived, leaving our sick
and wounded behind. If this is really so Cuesta
ought to be displaced. Lord Robert Spencer, Mr.
Vaughan, and the Baron de Rolla are here. They
say that the opinion is that nothing can be done
against Antwerp. In short, this expedition, which
was to have been a coup de main, has already lasted
a month, and only Flushing, Walcheren, and South
Beveland taken.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, September 5, 1809.
Every thing every where goes so ill that I have
had no courage to write to you. Lord Chatham1
deserves signal punishment, I think, first for the
presumption of asking for such a command, and then
for the failure of the measures he pretended to be
equal to command. It really was too bad to give
such a man such an army whilst the heroic Lord
Arthur had three French armies to encounter with
20,000 English, the Spanish commander thwarting
him in every plan and attempt. I don't know what
we are to look to or hope for. Mr. Tierney2 is just
come, but being one who will triumph in the justness
of his prophecy I have not courage to see. . . .
1 Lord Chatham — Eldest son of the great Lord Chatham.
iMr. Tierney — George T., statesman (1761-1830).
338 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Lady Elisabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, Sept. 8, 1809.
. . . You will grieve to hear of Lord Welling-
ton's retreat. Lord Chatham you prophecied too
right about. I feel very anxious about the Swedish
expedition, so pray let me hear about it.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, Sept. 11, 1809.
. . . I feel so interested about the Swedish
expedition, and do so rejoice that though they could
not beat the Russians, yet that from losses the latter
were forced to abandon Umea. I beg you will go
on telling me about them. You will hear of the
discontent here on account of Flushing being the
only object obtained by the expedition, and that
with great loss by sickness. Lord Wellington, too,
has retreated to Elvas, but it seems to have been a
dignified retreat, and then taking up a strong posi-
tion and waiting till the Junta are turned, as I hope
they will be, into a Regency, and are a little more
active and energetic. America, you see, is again
discontented with us. . . .
FROM LADY ELIZABETH FOSTER. 339
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Sept. 21, 1809.
What strange events happen. These two months
I have heard it said that Canning would not stay in
if Lord Castlereagh was not turned out.1 Lord
Castlereagh is out, yet Canning's resignation is ac-
cepted, and this morning these two fight a duel, in
which our dear Canning is wounded, but, though a
narrow escape, Vaughan says that it will be of no
consequence. . . . What I can't understand is
why Lord Castlereagh is out, why Canning resigns.
It is supposed that the King supports Lord Chatham :
if so, they will patch up an administration perhaps
again with the Doctor:2 it is too bad. The rumours
of the Grenvilles and Lord Grey having been sent
for have subsided. I believe the King hates the
thought of the Grenvilles. ... I have written
to Charles Bagot to inquire how Canning does.
Fred could not tell me where Charles Ellis lives.
Good God! what he must have felt when he saw
that Canning was wounded. They say it was some
sarcasm of Canning which galled the Viscount, and
so he challenged him.
22nd.
Huskisson, Mr. L., and Sturges Bourne have re-
signed with Canning and Rose — of the Cabinet none
certain yet but Lord Granville L. Canning suffered
in the night, but is going on well.
1 Jf Lord Ctistlereagh was not turih'd out — On account of a difference of policy,
followed by misunderstanding on the subject of the Walcheren expedition, of which
Canning disapproved, wishing that reinforcements should rather be sent to Lord
Arthur Wellesley in Portugal.
'' The Doctor— Uvm-y Addington, Lord Sidmouth.
,
■
'
34° THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, Sept. 25, 1809.
The strangeness of the times continues. Canning,
however, is doing well, but you will be grieved at
his resignation, and so am I. Lord Grenville and
Lord Grey have been sent to, but whether in such a
manner as to make it possible for them to accept I
don't know. Report says that the message is from
the King and to join the six remaining Ministers,
Liverpool, Harrowby, Eldon, Chatham, &c. I wish
that our friends originally had joined with Canning
and not with Sidmouth. . . . Canning, I am
told, after the duel, said to Lord Castlereagh, " Now,
pray tell me what we have been fighting about".
When Home the surgeon came to his house he
shook hands with him and joked him about having
set C. Ellis' leg crooked. Home said to himself,
"It can't be him who is to fight". Charles Ellis
shook hands with him, and his hand was cold as
marble, on which Home said, "If this is the man
who is to fight, what an unfeeling second he has''.
Poor Charles Ellis! I can't conceive such a situation.
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, Sept. 28, 1809.
Since I wrote to you nothing more has occurred,
because they wait for Lord Grey and Lord Gren-
FROM ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 341
ville's answers. If, as I heard yesterday, Perceval
has written to offer to share the Cabinet between
them, I don't think they can possibly accept of it,
because they think so point blank differently on such
principal topics. However, there is so marvellous a
facility in men to reconcile things that will secure
power, that there is no saying what may happen.
If, as I think, opposition don't agree to this, then
probably the Doctor will come in for a short reign,
and the best result would be the union of opposition
and Canning. . . . The Norwegians seem in-
clined to be friendly to us, and the Swedes are heroes.
Their march to Umea does them honor, and I wish
that they could drive every Russian away. Spain is
reviving a little, and Lord Wellington is secure in
his position, and meditates, I hope, offensive measures.
He will do all that can be done. William Ponsonby
has been with his brother at head quarters. When
he arrived, Col. Seymour, S. T. Colonel, called out
to his servant, Look out for two spare trees for Mr.
Ponsonby to lodge in. They say Lord Grenville
don't accept, and that Lord Grey won't come to
town. This is very odd indeed.
Elisabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, October 5, 1809.
I think Canning has been ill used by Lord Camden
and the Duke of Portland. He entrusted to them
the telling Lord Castlereagh, which they never did,
342 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
and now Canning appears as a false person to many,
because he continued transacting business with him
while he declared him incompetent to that place:
perhaps it would have been still better had he told
him himself, but still he must have thought himself
certain of the communication being made through
Lord Castlereagh's uncle and the first Lord of the
Treasury.
Lady Elizabeth Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, Nov. 9, 1809.
. . . As to Politicks, they sicken me, for though
Bonaparte has failed, for he announced the total de-
struction of Austria, yet how is a country fallen that
can give up such a people as the Tyrolese.
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, Nov. 13, 1809.
. . . As to politicks, Canning's statement, which
is in the form of a letter to Lord Camden, is to be
out very soon. He has shewn it to Lord Tichfield
and Lord W. Bentinck. The first made scarcely
any alteration. The second begged Canning to
efface what was really a beautiful character of his
father, attributing his conduct to the mildness of his
nature and his unwillingness to give pain, and to
substitute what he said he knew to be his father's
FROM FREDERICK FOSTER. 343
real motive, the wish to keep the Administration
together. Strange that Lord W. should prefer his
father's conduct being attributed to real downright
deception than to the weakness of good nature, in-
creased by illness and age; but this between our-
selves alone; but it is certain that they worked upon
Canning's good nature, who perhaps has not yet taken
the tone his talents entitle him to do. If Lord
Wellesley accept under the present Ministers, I
think it will lower him much. . . .
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, Dec. 5, 1809.
. . . Canning said to me that he had left a
written memento in the office to mark his approbation
of your conduct, and that you had every thing that
would be most likely to make you rise in that line,
good sense, good temper, conciliatory manners,
&c. . . .
Frederick Foster
To Augustus Foster.
London, Feb. 29, 18 10.
My dear Augustus, — What do you think of our
Conspiracy ? Were you not very much surprized ?
Palle came running in to tell me of the horrid
massacre that was to have taken place, and I went
immediately to Miss H., where I found her and
344 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Lady Erne still very nervous. Ministers had in-
formation all along. It was to have taken place at
Lord Westmoreland's dinner some weeks ago, but
was deferred; several of them, however, were seen
watching about the door. At last they fixed on Lord
Harrowby's Cabinet Dinner for the massacre. They
were to have broken into the house, first giving a
knock, and on the Porter's opening it to have rushed
in, killed every thing that opposed them, flung hand
grenades into the Rooms, and, in short, to have
murdered them all; then to have endeavoured to
raise the lowest mob, and so made a Jacobin Revolu-
tion of it. A man, one of the Party who repented,
stopped Lord Harrowby in the Park and gave him
full information of their designs. He agreed with
his brother ministers to say nothing to the servants
about putting off the Dinner, so it was ordered as
usual. He himself slipped out and dined with Lord
Liverpool and Lady Erne. He got Lady Harrowby
and the children out of the house, telling her the
reason — that she was to be quite secret — the con-
stables and soldiers, as you will see, surrounded the
house, and after a desperate resistance took nine of
them. Owing to some blunder the soldiers did not
arrive quite in time, and several of them escaped.
It has caused a great sensation in London. Thistle-
wood is a Lincolnshire man, half gentleman and half
yeoman, had about ^800 a year, which, I hear, he •
lost at the gaming table. Poor Lady Liverpool was
very much affected, fainted, and was very ill, and so
was Lady Erne. The mob, I am told, hissed them
as they were taken along the streets. I have not
FROM ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 345
heard when they are to be tried. We are all in a
bustle also about the Election. G. Lamb has a
good chance for Westminster, and, as a whole,
Government will gain, I hear. F. Th. F.
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
March 1, 1810.
Mr. Cavendish, the philosopher, has died worth
,£1,075,000, and though it is a week ago we are still
ignorant how he has left his property. The Duke
and I, however, are quite convinced that he has left
him nothing, so the question is how much he has
left to Lord George, and what to men of science,
and for Charities.
You will see strange things — Lord Chat-
ham's narrative, Joseph Napoleon's advance to
Seville and Cadiz; and Lord Wellington's prepara-
tions for quitting Portugal; it is melancholy to see
the end of this contest for liberty and independence.
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, March 26, 1810.
To-day is the great discussion of the Scheldt
expedition. Lord Wellesley is clear of it certainly,
and so is Canning and Lord Castlereagh of the
delay in recalling the troops, but no country can see
346 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
the failure of such an armament, and mourn the
loss of so many thousands by sickness and disease
and not insist on knowing the cause of such a mis-
fortune. It is supposed that the discussion will
last two or three days, but nobody knows how it
will end — probably only a near run thing. . . .
What a stroke of policy Bonaparte's marriage1 seems
to be. We hear of nothing but his magnificent pre-
parations for it. He seems to be quarrelling in
earnest with America, but they bear with any insult
from him. . . .
Baron d ' Engelstrbm*
To Augustus Foster.
May 31, 1810.
Monsieur, — Vous avez voulu une lettre de moi
pour justifier votre depart. La voici. Vous connaissez
votre position. Je me trouve dans le cas de vous
prier de partir jeudi au soir. J'espere l'avantage de
vous voir avant que vous quittez Stockholm pour
vous renouveller les assurances de la consideration
distinguee et de l'attachement sincere aux lesquels
j'ai 1'honneur d'etre. — Monsieur, votre tres humble et
tres obeissant serviteur, d'Engelstrom.
A M. Foster.
Note of Mr. Foster on the above — Ordered out of
Sweden by Napoleon's directions.
1 Bonaparte's marriage — With Marie Louise, daughter of Francis I., Emperor
of Austria (1791-1847).
2 Baron d ' Engelstrdm — Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs.
FROM THE PRINCE REGENT. 347
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, Jan. 10, 1811.
I came to town a few days ago, as the Duke of
D. was obliged to attend Parliament on the question
of restrictions. ... I afterwards found that we
had beat the ministers on most of the questions, but,
lo and behold, the vicissitude of things : the King is
now said to be recovering, and that there is an end
of the Regency. So be it. I am sure nothing would
be so bad for my friends as a three months' adminis-
tration. I am told that the ist of Feb. is the time
fixed for the Regency if it does take place. The
King, however, is so emaciated and reduced that I
should not suppose he ever can be equal to business
again; and after what has come out of Lord Sid-
mouth having been appointed with two mad doctors
in the room, it will make people slow to believe
in H.M.'s perfect recovery. . . .
The Prince Regent
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
February 14, 181 1.
I have the pleasure to announce to you, my dearest
Duchess, that I have this day assented to the nomi-
nation of Mr. Augustus Foster as Minister to the
United States of America. I hope this will meet
with your approbation, as nothing can ever afford
me more pleasure than whatever I know can convey
348 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
satisfaction both to yourself as well as the dear Duke.
—I remain, ever most truly and sincerely, your af-
fectionate Friend and humble Servant,
George, P.R.
Carlton House, February 14, 181 1.
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To A ugustus Foster.
Devonshire House, Feb. 15, 181 1.
I inclose you the Prince Regent's letter, which I
received at the Play last night. You will believe
that I never said one word about you to him or any
body else. I was obliged to answer the Prince, but
this I did merely by expressing my thanks to him
for his unvarying kindness to me, and by saying that
you was in Ireland. The Prince announcing this
nomination to me himself makes me suppose that in
the present situation in which we stand with America
it is considered as an important and advantageous
mission, and it is one in which you are first, and
therefore all the credit will be yours, and distinc-
tions would probably follow. I know, however, your
dislike to that country so well that I shall not say
any thing to influence you more than it is abso-
lutely my duty to do, and this, that if your dislike
to accept of this mission arises from any hope of
succeeding with1 , you ought, I think, to bring
that to a point by making your situation known. If
she has any liking for you, the idea of your going
1 Succeeding with — Miss Milbanke.
FROM ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 349
would make her decide in your favor, and you would
either then not want to go anywhere or might per-
haps get it exchanged for some other Country she
would like. If you only relinquish this line for
Parliament, pray pause and consider how few people
rise to any eminence in it; how very few obtain
from Parliamentary merit alone either fame or
emolument. You are appointed now Minister to
the United States at a period of great consequence
to this country. If it all terminates well, considering
our connections and friendships, you are likely to
receive flattering marks of approbation, and every
thing that is pleasantest hereafter in the profession
is open to you. Having said what I felt it my duty
to do, I can only leave the ultimate decision to you.
Your happiness and advantage is all I wish for, but
I should be sorry to see you throw away the means
of doing yourself credit from an unfounded pursuit
of other objects. At all events, I think you ought
to return directly. . . .
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
August 3, 181 1.
This is black Monday, so that I have no letters,
and rumours prevail. Lord Burgersh told me that
it was strongly reported that M'Donald1 had been
defeated at Riga, and my brother read a sixth Bulletin
dated still from Wilna, in which Bonaparte complains
1 M'Donald — Marshal Macdonald (1765-1840).
350 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
so much of bad roads that it is suspected he has no
victories to boast of. What a blessing a real check
to his arms would be! General Graham is come
home in good health, but in danger of losing his
eyes; he has had Weare's advice, however, who has
given him much comfort about them. He has
given his horses and wine to Lord Wellington, of
whom he is an enthusiastic admirer, I am told — well
he may. Several negotiations have been going on
for Lord Wellesley and Canning to come in, but it
has gone off, and, I believe, because they could not
settle about the lead in the House of Commons, and
something, it is said, in a letter of Lord Castlereagh's
to Lord Liverpool1 about Canning which Canning
could not put up with. It is a pity it is gone off;
their names would have done good just now.
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, August 30, 181 1.
Knowing your anxiety for me, I have written two
or three times since my dreadful misfortune.2 I hope
others have too, for at first I could write but a line
or two; calmer now, but as wretched; less stunned,
and therefore more competent to feel the full extent
of my loss. I can only wonder that my life and
intellect have lasted. What is it that enables one to
survive such a shock, so sudden, so unexpected, so
1 Lord Liverpool — Prime Minister from 1812 to 1827 (1770-1828).
3 My dreadful misfortune — The death of her husband.
FROM ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 351
overwhelming? God has supported me, and given
me dear children and kind friends, and I ought to
be, and am, grateful for these blessings, but indeed,
my dearest Augustus, the husband whom I have lost
was the creature of my adoration, and long had been
so. He was so eminent in all that is good, amiable,
noble, and praiseworthy. I almost wondered at my
own happiness in being united to him, and when you
was with us here, scarce more than three short
months ago, there was not a day, scarcely an hour, I
did not thank Heaven for the happiness of belonging
to such a man. Oh God, it is too, too much. This
place, too, so full of him; his dear, his gracious form
in every part of these gardens so present, so fully
impressed on my mind, that all appears at times a
fearful dream. I will not distress you further, I
know how you will feel for me, how you will regret
him. Thankful I am, though that moment of misery
never can be effaced from my heart, that I had
strength to be with him to the last, and that it was
in my arms that he expired; yes, expired, and I live
to write it.
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, Nov. 3, 181 1.
. . . You must be content for a while to get
shabby letters from me, for though I do all I can to
bear up in return for all the kindness shewn me, yet
it is a hard task, and I feel that no time can give me
3S2 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
a happy feel again. I shall be happy at moments
when I see you, and the moment of return of those
who are dear to me must be one of enjoyment to
me, but life has lost that which gave it its great
value, that which made me for a short time the
happiest of human beings, for such a being as him
surely never existed. What a wreck in these last
few years! All that is pre-eminent is gone. To me
it is as a desert, and but for my children what an
exile should I feel in this world. . . . The King
is worse and worse. The Duke of Clarence1 has
proposed to Miss Long, and has been rejected, but
they say that he don't despair.
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Frederick Foster.
November &„ 1811.
Every thing is now so melancholy that nothing
that can be said upon it can be too much, or even
increase my misery, but I am happy in you, Augus-
tus, Caro, and Clifford; but life has lost its charm,
and the world the noblest creature that ever adorned
it. To have been his; to bear his name is still my
pride and comfort. . . . Lord Byron2 is come
back, Mr. Rogers told me, and very much improved,
and regretting his satirical poem, which he wrote, he
says, writhing with anger at the Edinburgh Re-
view. . . .
1 The Duke of Clarence — Afterwards King William IV (1765-1837).
5 Lord Byron— (1788-1824).
FROM THE HONBLE. MRS. GEORGE LAMB. 353
The Honble. Mrs. George Lamb
To Augustus Foster.
London, November 6, 181 1.
My dear Augustus, — I have delayed answering
your letter till half an hour before the time, and in-
excusable as it is, with a month between each post
day, to plead the want of time, I must make use of
it to-day. I am now writing at a very melancholy
moment. The Duchess is come to town to pack up
all her things and to leave this house for ever. It
is a moment I have always dreaded for her. I
think a widow's situation at all times a most dread-
ful one; at the time that she wants most comfort and
care she is obliged to leave her home and the com-
forts she has been used to all her life. There are a
thousand little things, too, which have annoyed and
worried her. It grieves me to the heart to see her
unhappy. We are going to the seaside for a little
while. The Liverpools have, I believe, lent her
Walmer, and we shall go there till she has got a
house in town, and she will then settle in London.
I think it is the best place for her, for she is not very-
fond of the country, and, so used to Society as she
has been all her life, I am sure that great retirement
would be the worst thing for her. I have seen
nothing of your friends in the north,1 but I have
heard nothing that need alarm you; great coldness
to all the admirers.
I hope you received a letter I sent you from Lady
Milbanke. She has persuaded, or rather forced,
1 Your friends in the north — The Milbankes.
354 THE TW0 DUCHESSES.
poor Sir Ralph to stand again for Durham, and I am
afraid it will be absolute ruin, besides which, I hear
he has no chance of carrying it. His opponents are
Lord Barnard and Sir Harry Vane. I am just come
from Brocket Hall. They are all going on very
jollily there, and Caro2 is a little less mad than
usual.
C. J. Lamb.
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
January, 1812.
The restrictions end the 17th, and the King is
worse than ever. You will see that the Catholick
question has been brought on; dear Hartington
seconded. Lord Fitzwilliam was very much fright-
ened, but did it well, and ended with a true Cavendish
sentiment, that, thinking this measure right, he sup-
ported it, and always would. Lord Morpeth spoke
uncommonly well yesterday, but the question will go
on for three days together. In Spain, Valencia has
fallen, but so, I believe, has Ciudad Rodrigo to Lord
Wellington. There never was surely so unfortunate
a general as Blake. Lord Wellington has raised
our military fame high, yet, I fear, if opposition
came in they would cramp his means. God bless
you, my dearest Augustus. I as yet see no body
but the friends, the immediate friends, of him I know
not how to live without, nor do I feel as if I ever
could. Dear Georgiana is lying in. Harriet is ab-
2 Caro — Caroline, wife of the Hon. William Lamb.
FROM THE EARL OF LIVERPOOL. 355
sorbed in Lord G. L. Hartington is affectionate and
kind, but very young and surrounded. Your brother
and Caroline seldom leave me, but to-day I made
them dine at Lord Cowper's. How shocked you
will be to hear of poor William Cavendish's death.
I never heard of so dreadfull and awfull an accident,
three minutes before they were all together the
happiest family possible — poor wretched Mrs. Caven-
dish adored him; she is with child, which, I believe,
alone supports her. Your correspondence is moved
for, and, when produced, ministers say will do you the
greatest credit. Oh! the comfort of that. I thank
God for the children he has given me.
The Earl of Liverpool
To
January, 1812.
Thursday, January. — My dear Lord, — I send you
the correspondence with Sir James Craig on the
subject of the Indians. The inclosures which con-
tain the reasons and inducements to the Indians not
to engage in hostilities with the United States it
would not be desirable should be published, and
need not perhaps be forwarded to Mr. Foster. The
following facts appear clear, however, from Sir J.
Craig's letter, that as soon as he knew of any inten-
tions on the part of the Indians to commence hostilities
he informed Mr. Morier of the circumstance in order
that he might make a communication thereupon to
the American Government, that he at the same time
356 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
and subsequently used every endeavour to dissuade
the Indians from their projects of hostilities, and
that his conduct was approved from home in the
month of July last, and Sir George Prevost directed
to pursue the same course of procedure, — Ever yours
sincerely,
Liverpool.
The Earl of A berdeen
To Augustus Foster.
Argyll House, Feb. 5, 1812.
My dear Augustus, — I wish it was in my power
to give you some positive information concerning
that which must interest you very much, as well as
it does us. I mean the formation of the Ministry
after the expiration of the restrictions. Until very
lately no one doubted that every thing would remain
as it is. It is certain, however, that Lord Wellesley
has given in his resignation, and only holds the seals
pro tempore. The cause is assigned to some radical
difference of opinion between him and Perceval on
several subjects, but principally on the conduct of the
war. It is thought that this step will shake the
foundations of the present Government, and indeed
destroy its existence altogether. This is also my
belief. We have a report of a Government being
formed, of which Wellesley and Canning are to be
the principal members, but this is highly improbable.
If any change takes place it will be for the purpose
of bringing in the opposition.
I read with great satisfaction your correspondence
FROM ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 357
with Mr. Monroe, and, although it is possible that I
might view it with partial eyes, I find the general
impression is just that which I could desire. We
are at least come to believe in the possibility of a
war; perhaps even now it is not intended, but the
language recently adopted certainly threatens it.
I received your barrels of apples, which are said to
be excellent. Thinking that all apples are turnips
growing on trees, I am not an apple-eater.
You will probably hear many reports about the
Prince's health: in order that you may not be de-
ceived, I can tell you that he is in reality well. There
is a strange numbness in his hands, but even if it gets
worse there is no sort of danger, for I understand it
is a very common thing. Believe me, very affectly.
yours, Aberdeen.
Elisabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
Piccadilly Terrace, Feb. 29, 1812.
I begin before the regular day, my dearest Augustus,
because I want to tell you without delay how much I
feel the kindness of your letters, and of how great a
comfort they are to me. They are the greatest
possible comfort, first, because they prove you feel
my misfortune, as it soothes me that it should be
felt, great and terrible even to think of; then that
you shew me how you know how he deserved, and
saw how I adored him I have lost, my dear, dear
husband, and yet that you try to turn my thoughts
358 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
to that which I should be and am gratefull for, the
affection of you all, my dear children, and of his
children, and that, since grief did not kill me at first,
that I must try to live in health for them to whom I
am yet a source of comfort. To your affection, to
your conduct, publick and private, dearest Augustus,
I look for much of what I can yet experience of
pleasure and comfort. . . . Caro means to see
la bella Anabella before she writes to you. I don't
like the last letter which you received, and I shall
almost hate her if she is blind to the merits of one
who would make her so happy. ... As to
politicks, they are in a state as novel as distressing.
Dear Lord Wellesley has resigned. Lord Castle-
reagh succeeds. The Prince Regent quarrels with
his old friends, and abuses his new ones. Sheridan
and Lord Lauderdale declare in his name to G.
Ponsonby that the Catholick question shall not be
made a Cabinet one, and Perceval contradicts this
in his speech in Parliament the next day. It is all
inconceivable.
March yd.
To-night on Orders in Council it is expected to
divide so strong as to leave Ministers a majority
only of 40. This in common times would have been
reckoned a defeat, and Lord North would have
resigned on it, but Perceval, I believe, would stay in
at all risks. I shall add a few lines to-morrow. It is
since I began this letter, I believe, that the Ministers
were beat on Banks' motion for not granting Col.
M'Mahon the place which the Prince Regent had
FROM LORD PALMERSTON. 359
given him. People say it is the first instance of
Parliament refusing to confirm the first act of favour
of a new reign. To me, who really love the Prince,
this is melancholy; but he sits all evening in Man-
chester Square, and loses sight of all but the politicks
of that little circle. Now, though I do believe that
there is no cry for the opposition in the country, yet
the people dislike his having forsaken his friends of
25 years in that way, and I could have wished that he
had sent to them, and fairly said that, being deter-
mined to go on with the war in Spain, that he would
not now call them to his Councils, but having the
same friendship and esteem for them, that he should
still look to them when circumstances allowed him to
do so. No half measure or trickery ever did credit
to the person or service to their cause. . . .
Lord Palmerston
To Sir Augustus Foster.
War Office, March 25, 1812.
Dear Foster, — Mr. Lawrence, the bearer of this,
is connected with my brother in law, Mr. Sulivan,
and, being bound to America, is desirous of having
the advantage of being made known to you. I know
too well the extent of business which you must have
upon your hands at the present moment to do more
than write two lines to say that if you should have it
in your power officially to be of any use to him with-
out much inconvenience to yourself, I should be very
360 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
much obliged to you for any attention which you
may shew him.
I hope Buonaparte's last communications with his
Conservative Senate may be of use to you as to the
question of the existence of the French Decrees. If
you make musick of the Americans you will accom-
plish what appears next to impossible, and yet you
seem to be making progress. I suppose the Suaviter
in Modo fortiter in Re tells with them as it does
with others. — Yours very truly, Palmerston.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Washington, April 18, 1812.
. . . I am afraid my chance is small with Miss
Milbanke. Indeed, staying as long as I do here, it is
scarce just to think I can keep an interest with her
sufficient to balance in any degree against the daily
assiduities she must listen to. I wish, however, very
much that I could go home, for I cannot consent to
add to the number of diplomatic old bachelors. . . .
Here they talk more loudly than before of war. The
French Minister, on being told that France was
threatened as well as England, said he must in that
case solicit an interview with the British Minister, in
order for us to concert together measures of defence
against so alarming a power. A great many people
are afraid of being laughed at if they don't fight. It
is really a curious state of things. They even refer
to me occasionally to ask what we should think of
FROM ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 36 1
them. I am on good terms with almost all. Good
living, you are very right in saying, has its effect
here.
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
London, May 4, 1812.
. . . I have sent you a very beautiful poem
by Lord Byron, who continues to be made the
greatest fuss with. The Edinburgh Review is just
come out with their critique on it. They praise it
because they cannot help doing so; but whilst they
accuse him of bitterness in resenting their former
illiberal review of his " Minor Poems", they, I think,
betray how much they smarted, and still smart, under
the keenness of his lash in the " English Bards
and Scotch Reviewers": Your brother read it to me,
which is a favor most rare, I assure you; but it was
very pleasant, and I wish he did it oftener. The
Character is really all written by Adair, but I own
to you I thought with you that it was superior to his
usual powers; but it is his and his alone; he did it
at my request, and in two days' time. I will send
you two or three that if there is anybody you think
worthy to possess one that you may give it to them
— to Randolph, for instance. . . . As to that
particular object, you will have had letters from Caro-
line and me, which will have, to our great regret,
put an end to all our hopes on that subject. The
only comfort is that it was, on her part, though not
362 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
on her mother's, over before you went. She persists
in saying that she never suspected your attachment
to her, but she is so odd a girl that though she has
for some time rather liked another, she has decidedly
refused them, because she thinks she ought to marry
a person with a good fortune, and this is partly, I
believe from generosity to her parents, and partly
owning that fortune is an object to herself for happi-
ness. In short, she is good, amiable, and sensible,
but cold, prudent, and reflecting. What I have told
you is a great secret; you must not breathe it, and I
will let you know if there is any change. She is at
present with Lady Gosford, but expects her parents
this week: we must look out for something better.
Lord Byron makes up to her a little, but she don't
seem to admire him except as a poet, nor he her,
except for a wife. Your little friend, Caro William,1
as usual, is doing all sorts of imprudent things for
him and with him; he admires her very much, but is
supposed by some to admire our Caroline more; he
says she is like Thyrsa, and her singing is enchant-
ment to him. Dearest life! don't fret about Anna-
bella. I don't think you will, as Lady Selina made a
little episode — only guard against American beauties,
and we must seek for something more glowing than
Annabella; and when you return, who knows what
we may meet with. You will have heard of the fall
of Badajoz, and the hope of liberating the South
West of Spain from Ballesteros being, as it is said,
at Seville. Lord Wellington is indeed an eminent
Man, and all parties agree in their praise of him.
1 Caro William — Caroline, wife of the Hon. William Lamb.
FROM ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 363
Marmont1 is said to have invested Ciudad Rodrigo,
which must cripple Lord Wellington's movements to
the South, but it must be hoped not more than this;
and he is said to have taken Badajoz four days
sooner than he said, and to have sent divisions oft
to Ciudad Rodrigo two days after its fall. I hope
there may be some news to send you before the
letter goes.
Stk.
Ministers were beat last night on Mr. Banks'
motion on sinecure places. To-night is Lord Hol-
land's motion about America, Mr. Henry's business,
and I understand that Lord Liverpool will deny it,
though they won't give up the correspondence.
Pray Heaven that they may be able to do so, and
that dear England may remain with unblemished
honor. The accounts from Spain seem good (the
French retired from Almeida and C. Rodrigo), and
doubly good, in that the Portuguese troops have
learnt to fight well, even when not in the presence
of the hero Wellington. The accounts of riots in
France are confirmed, I am told, and " Bread,
Peace, or the head of the Tyrant" was stuck upon
the Tuilleries. . . . Things are in an uncom-
fortable state, for though the riots are amongst the
manufacturers, there is no doubt but that there are
ill-intentioned people stirring them up, and that there
is a good deal of alarm, all which would be increased
by the sort of unpopularity attending the Royal
family from the want of state and show which all
1 Marmont — Napoleon's marshal (1774-1852).
364 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
communities like, and which the people think their
due. I trust, however, that the good sense of the
English, and the example of the French will keep all
things quiet. ... I told Adair how much you
liked his character, and how much Randolph liked it,
and he came to me this morning to thank me, and
he expressed how flattered he was.
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
London, May 10, 1812.
. . . You will see with pleasure that F. Pon-
sonby has distinguished himself, and I think you
must be proud of your Country's Victories, and
heroick valour. What say the Americans to it. . . .
With all this I fear we have a weak administration
at home, and a systematized spirit of riot difficult to
subdue. Every body regrets Lord Wellesley. I
sent you by the last messenger Lord Byron's beauti-
full poem. The parts about Greece will be doubly
interesting to you: he continues to be the great
attraction at all parties and suppers. The ladies, I
hear, spoil him, and the gentlemen are jealous of
him. He is going back to Naxos, and then the
husbands may sleep in peace. I should not be sur-
prized if Caro William were to go with him, she is so
wild and imprudent. •
May II.
I am sorry to have to add to my parcel the horrid
news that Perceval1 was just now shot dead in the
1 Perceval— The Prime Minister.
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 365
lobby of the House of Commons. I never felt more
horror at any thing. A murder of that kind has not
happened in England since Queen Anne's time, and
in the midst of the horror and concern for the par-
ticular event, one can't help dreading its opening a
new epoch in the English character. I trust not,
and it really is most horrid. Think of his poor wife
and children. If I hear more I will add it to this.
Your brother told me when I came home from
a quiet, melancholy walk. He had been walking
with Colonel Foster. They saw several people
riding full speed towards the House, and soon after,
this, which they thought idle rumour, was confirmed.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Washington, May 26, 18 12.
I see you don't like Annabella1 much. She is cer-
tainly rather too cold in her manners, and gives to
reason too much empire over her mind, but she has
good eyes, is fair, has right ideas, and sense, and
mildness. I don't think she will ever be able to love
very warmly; but yet I believe she thinks she ought
to wait till the spirit moves her, and the spirit per-
haps may never come, as I fancy happens to many
of her temperament. I long most anxiously to get
back to settle that point, good or bad. No Minister
ever had such temptations to break up a negotiation.
I would give the world to go back for six months,
1 Annabella — Miss Milbanke.
366 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
and am miserable that I can't do so, but I can't
leave these members to themselves two days to-
gether.
From General Moreau
To Augustus Foster, Esq., then at Mentone.
New York, zUh Mai, 1812.
Monsieur, — J'ai recu la lettre que vous m'avez
fait l'honneur de m'ecrire & les passeports que vous
avez eu la Complaisance de m'envoyer. Made-
Moreau vous prie de vouloir bien agreer tous ses
Remercimens. Messres le Roy & Rayard Croyent
que le navire le powhatan allant sur son Lest &
muni de votre recommendation n'est pas susceptible
d'etre pris: si cependant ces Mess se ravisent &
desirent que le navire y soit mentionne J'aurai
l'honneur de vous en faire part.
Je suis tres reconnoisant des Reproches que vous
me faites d'avoir Reste si peu de terns a Washington,
mais que pouvait y faire un ministere entre les decres
de Milan & de Berlin, les ordres en Conseil, L'acte
de non importation, L'ambargo & productions
bizarres, dont tout le monde parle, que peu de
personne comprennent & sur lesquelles on ne
s'entendra jamais, & puis j'etais presse de jouir de
l'importance que donne le Retour de la Capitale,
Aurons nous la guerre me demandoit on de toute
part? Je repondois que n'ayant vu que des gens
tres tranquilles, tres pacifiques, & tres dloignes les
uns des autres (vous savez que les maisons ne se
touchent pas) on devoit presumer qu'on ne se
FROM ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 367
battroit pas: que Cependant, ayant entendu tout le
monde Se plaindre de l'ennui, ce qui a la longue
donne de l'humeur, it etoit possible qu'on fink par se
facher tout de bon.
Avec cette maniere de repondre on se trompe
rarement, on n'ote L'esperance a personne, & on
acquiere des droits a devenir prophete.
Je prie v. ex. d'agreer l'assurance des sentimens
de la consideration la plus distingues avec lesquels
je suis. Monsieur, Votre tres humble and tres
obeissant serviteur, V. Moreau.
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
May 28, 181 2.
. . . The Prince Regent was there, and in
pretty good spirits, the crowd and heat enormous; —
but now your eyes have wandered over this for a
name more interesting. Well, Annabella was there ;
Annabella looked well; Annabella and I got more
acquainted than I have done yet. Caroline called
her to sit by her. I made room, and we all three
sat on a couch. I liked her countenance and man-
ners. Old twaddle Ralph1 and I are all cordiality,
and Lady Milbanke called her daughter to speak to
me, who said, " I had the honor of talking to the
Duchess " — which we had in the further room. She
did not ask me about you, which I was glad of; in-
difference would have made her inquire out of civility;
the father did.
1 Ralph— Sir Ralph Milbanke, Bart., d. 1825,
368 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
June i.
The accounts have confirmed the Jersey telegraph
account. Soult1 is defeated with immense loss. . . .
Lady Milbanke came up to me last night at Mrs.
Siddons', and inquired most kindly about you — said
she should hear from you as soon as you arrived,
and said that if you could adjust things in America
you would come home to honor and distinction, and
how delightful that would be. The girl still never
names you to me — tant mieux.
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
June 2, 1812.
I wrote to you about a fortnight ago, just after
poor Mr. Perceval's horrid assassination, and we
have continued since that without an administration.
Lord Liverpool was named first Lord of the Treasury,
but not kissed hands, and Mr. Wortley's motion
obliged them to resign. The Regent then sent to
Lord Wellesley to form or propose a plan for a new
administration, and Lord Wellesley brought about a
reconciliation between the Regent and Lord Moira.
Both these Peers have tried to make arrangements
for opposition to come in, but the Prince could not
be prevailed on to admit them. Down to the 30th
nothing was done. The Prince saw all parties, ex-
cept Grey and Grenville, but nothing could be fixed
on. The ex-Ministers, except Lord Melville, de-
1 Soult— (1765-1851).
FROM ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 369
clare that they won't serve with Lord Wellesley.
At last, yesterday, Canning announced in the House
that Lord Wellesley had the Prince's authority to
proceed to the forming of a new administration, and
he did submit a paper to them. The Prince ex-
pressed a wish to have Moira, Erskine, and Ellen-
borough in the Cabinet; they were (Grey and Gren-
ville) to name the others of their party, making five
opposition Cabinet Ministers if the number was 1 2,
and six if it was 13 — Lord Wellesley, of course, to
name the others. Well, all appeared smooth and
promising when, behold! opposition find out that it
is unconstitutional for the Sovereign to name any of
the Ministers except the first Lord who is to form it;
and so they refuse. My brother says that the talk
of the streets was to blame the opposition; to say
that the Sovereign has a right to name his Ministers,
and that the opposition have refused on grounds of
personal ambition. This is a most provoking de-
nouement. I will hope that something may yet be
done, but it is a faint hope; however, I will add
to-morrow what I hear; it must, I think, be decided
one way or another. The Liverpools have been
very much hurt with Wortley, but he went to him
first, and did it in a feeling and gentlemanlike manner.
The truth is, the administration have been weak to a
criminal degree.
Lady Erne was so fretted and vexed that she went
back to Hampton Court. Lady Hervey is with me,
cheerful and good-humoured as she always is. Caro-
line W. Lamb is quietly, thank heaven! at Brocket
with William and all of them. My Caroline is more
2A
370 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
than ever liked and admired — pur non e felice. Your
Annabella is a mystery; liking, not liking; generous
minded, yet afraid of poverty; there is no making
her out. I hope you don't make yourself unhappy
about her; she is really an icicle. Lady Milbanke
will make Sir Ralph stand the next election, which,
as it will be a contested one, will ruin him, and he is
with one foot in the grave; so it is doubly ill-judged.
The rest of your friends are well, and I am better,
and only wondering that I live.
General Moreau
To Augustus Foster.
New York, le 7 juin, 1812.
Monsieur, — J'ai recu la lettre que vous m'avez fait
l'honneur de m'ecrire le 2 de ce mois celle du 3
m'avoit soulage d'un fardeau. Bien pesant puisque
comme vous l'observez vous m£me ma femme se
trouvoit hors de grans ambaras et eviter un detour
et des retards d'au moins 40 jours.
Votre derniere m'a replonge dans des inquietudes
d'autant plus grandes que la sante de Madame Moreau
epuisee par une fatigue consecutive de six jours —
Employes a faire en hatte paquets la met presque
dans l'impossibilite de profiter du paquebot qui sure-
ment fera voile cette semaine — au moins ses medecins
le pensent ainsi, Jugez comme elle se trouvoit soulagee
par l'espoir d'aller sur le powhatan.
J'ai vu Messres le Roy and Rayard; ils n'ont
jamais pense a. porter une Cargaison sous la pro-
FROM GENERAL MOREAU. 37 1
tection de votre recommendation, et m'ont assure
que quelque soit la Speculation du retour du navire
ils n'avoient jamais pense a en profiter — il me semble
au reste que pour L'empecher vous pouvez specifier
que le navire doit etre sur son Lest et n'avoir que
des passagers, marchandise dont la Capture ne l'em-
barassent guerres.
Au reste si le vaisseau etoit conduit en Angleterre
elle n'auroit pour se rendre en france que la meme
peine qu'elle auroit en y allant par le paquebot. Une
circonstance dont je n'ai pu vous faire part dans ma
lettre de Samedi, C'est que quelque personnes de
New York avoient Recu des lettres de Washington
ou on leur Mentionnoit Le depart du powhatan avec
des depeches du gouvernement americain, un passe-
port de vous et que vous m'en aviez donne avis.
Je desirerois Bien que Mr. Monroe persistat dans
cette opinion, mais s'il y a guerre tous les Beaux
Reves peuvent etre detruites, hier on n'y Croyoit
pas, aujourd'hui on la craint; C'est comme la fievre
intermittente, au reste on pourrait dire a ces Mess, il
y a justement 20 ans que quelques Scerveles de
L'assemblee de france (1792) declarerent la guerre a
l'autriche et a la prusse, elle dure encore!
J'attens avec Bien de l'impatience une reponse a
la lettre que j'eus l'honneur de vous ecrire le 6, elle
decidera de nos esperances, Je presume que Mr.
Monroe me repondra aussi.
Dans le cas ou ma fern me ne pourroit partir ni par
le powhatan ni par le paquebot, croyez vous qu'il en
viendra un autre, ou Supposez vous qu'il y aura
quelqu'autre occasion pour l'Angleterre au com-
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372 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
mencement du mois prochain; la guerre pourroit elle
y apporter quelqu' obstacle. — Monsieur, votre tres
humble and tres obeissant Serviteur,
V. Moreau.
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
July 4, 1812.
On the 8th I go to Portland Place. We are very-
good friends, and la madre1 is anxious about you.
Annabella is silent still. I hear of no one likely to
be favoured by her, so I shall still live in hope for
you.
Augustus Foster
To Elisabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Copenhagen, August 10, 1812.
. . . Never was Minister's arrival so grateful
to a people as mine here. The Queen said such
things to me as proved how delighted they are. For-
tunately I had to use my own discretion in a great
measure, and had to use all the grace of conferring
the greatest obligation on a Country that it can
receive. I was first in recognizing the state of peace
here, and the Queen said to-day my coming was the
first moment of happiness they have known for a
long time. . . .
1 La madre — Lady Milbanke, d. 1822.
FROM THE HON. MRS. GEORGE LAMB. 373
The Honble. Mrs. George Lamb
To Augustus Foster.
Chiswick, August 31.
My dear Augustus, — I wrote to you last at a most
melancholy moment, and you will feel anxious, I am
sure, to hear from us again, and particularly to know
how your dear mother is. We have now been at
Chiswick near a month, and I think the fresh air and
quiet of this place has done her good, and though,
of course, after all she has gone through, her re-
covery must be slow, yet it is a great deal to have
been free from fever and regaining strength. Her
spirits are very bad, and. here there are a thousand
recollections which, though they endear the place to
us all, yet keep up the dreadful recollection that
what made us once so happy is gone for ever. It
gave us the greatest pleasure to hear that ministers
are very much pleased with your dispatches: the
only comfort she can now receive is from the affec-
tion of those that are left to her, and we must exert
ourselves to the utmost for her.
I am glad to hear that you have written to Lady
Milbanke. I think it ought to keep up the interest
which she certainly feels for you. I saw a good deal
of Annabella this year, and liked her very much
indeed. At first she constantly enquired after you,
but one day I talked of you as knowing of your
attachment to her, and she was much embarrassed,
and has never mentioned you since. Another thing
which speaks very well for you is that Sir Ralph,
374 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
whose judgment is, I believe, entirely formed upon
that of the female part of his family, praises you, I
hear, beyond any thing. I should think it wrong,
my dear Augustus, to make you too sanguine by
telling you these things, but that I think that at such
distance and parted for such a length of time it
would be cruel not to give you all the comfort I
can. Besides, I feel great horror at the possibility
of an American Mrs. Foster. God bless you, dear
Augustus. I hope we shall soon have you amongst
us again. Yours very aff., C. J. Lamb.
VERSES ADDRESSED BY LORD BYRON
IN THE YEAR 1812 TO THE HONBLE. MRS. GEORGE
LAMB.
The sacred song that on my ear
Yet vibrates from that voice of thine,
I heard before from one so dear,
Tis strange it still appears divine.
But oh! so sweet that look and tone
To her and thee alike is given ;
It seemed as if for me alone
That both had been recalled from Heaven.
And though I never can redeem
The vision thus endeared to me,
I scarcely can regret my dream
When realized again by thee.
FROM ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 375
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
1812. (?)
. . . I always say that you don't tell me what
is going on, but I make it a rule not to ask you. I
am most anxious for it if it is possible without a
sacrifice of national honor. It does seem as if it
were more for the interest of America to be friends
with us, who are masters of the sea, than with
France, who has no fleet. Sweden seems deter-
mined to be independent. It is said Russia is going
to war, and Armfeldt to have a command, but Bona-
parte means, they say, to command in person, and if
so, the odds are in his favor. Meanwhile dear Spain
maintains the conflict, and perhaps may profit of the
war between Russia and France.
The subject of conversation, of curiosity, of en-
thusiasm almost, one might say, of the moment is
not Spain or Portugal, Warriors or Patriots, but Lord
Byron! You probably read the Edinburgh Review's
criticism of his "Minor Poems", published in 1808,
not merely severe, but flippant. They prophesied
and entreated never to hear more as a Poet of this
young Lord. On this, stung to the quick, he
published, without a name, his " English Bards and
Scotch Reviewers ". The prodigious success of this
made him publish a second edition with his name
and additional lines and notes, and, going abroad,
said that on his return he would answer to any who
called on him. He returned sorry for the severity
of some of his lines, and with a new poem, " Childe
376 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Harold", which he published. This poem is on
every table, and himself courted, visited, flattered,
and praised whenever he appears. He has a pale,
sickly, but handsome countenance, a bad figure,
animated and amusing conversation, and, in short,
he is really the only topic almost of every conversa-
tion— the men jealous of him, the women of each
other. I have my accounts from Caroline, Caro
William, and Lady Bessborough — all agree in their
accounts. The misery is that his severest lines were
on Lord Carlisle, and therefore Lord Morpeth has
not yet and can't bear to meet him. But Lord
Byron has bought up all the third edition, which is a
great sacrifice to have made, and ought to conciliate
everybody. . . .
General Moreait
To his Wife.
Laun, 30 aout, 1813.
Ma chere amie, — A la bataille de Dresde il y a
trois jours j'ai eu les deux jambes emportes d'un
boulet de canon.
Ce coquin de Bonaparte est toujours heureux.
On m'a fait l'emputation aussi bien que possible
quoique l'armde ait foit un mouvement retrograde
ce n'est nullement par revers mais par decousu, et
pour se rapprocher du Gal Blucher excuse mon
griffonage je t'aime et t'embrasse de tout mon coeur
je charge Rapatel de finir. V. M.
FROM ALEXANDER I., EMPEROR OF RUSSIA. 377
This copy of Gen. Moreau's letter to his wife was
given to me by her.
E. Devonshire. Richmond, 1813.
Madam Moreau gave me this copy of General
Moreau's letter to his wife. I saw the original at
her house. E. D.
Alexander I., Emperor of Russia,
To Madame Moreatt.
Madame, — Lorsque l'affreux malheur qui atteignit
a mes cotes le general Moreau me priva des lu-
mieres et de l'experience de ce grand homme je
nourissois l'espoir qu'a force de soins on parviendroit
a le conserver a sa famille et a mon amitie — la provi-
dence en a dispose autrement — il est mort comme il
a vecu dans la pleine energie d'un ame fort et
constant — il n'est qu'un remede aux grandes peines
de la vie celui de les voir partager — en Russie
Madame vous trouverez partout ce sentiment et
s'il vous convient je rechercherai tous les moyens
d'embellir l'existence d'une personne dont je me fais
un devoir sacre d'etre le consolateur et l'appui. Je
vous prie d'y compter irrevocablement de ne me
laisser ignorer aucune circonstance ou je pourrai
vous etre de quelqu' utilite et de m'ecrire toujours
directement — prevenir vos desirs sera une jouis-
sance pour moi — l'amitie que j'avois voue a votre
epoux va au dela du tombeau et je n'ai pas d'autre
moyen de m'acquitter du moins en partie envers lui
que parceque je serai en meme de faire pour assurer
378 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
le bien 6tre de sa famille — recevez Madame dans ces
tristes et cruelles circonstances les t^moignages et
l'assurance de mes sentiments,
Alexandre.
toplitz C C, ybre, 1813.
Copy of the Emperor of Russia's letter to Mad.
Moreau. She gave it to me. E. D.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
December 13, 18 13.
. . . I dined at the Hollands' yesterday, where
were the Cowpers, Ossulstons, Abercrombies, Courte-
nays, &c. Lord Byron came in the evening. Madame
de Stael was attacked at dinner for taking up so
much of Sir James M'Intosh's time, and impeding
the progress of the history. Allen, in the evening,
maintained that she did not understand many of the
systems of the Germans she undertook to explain,
that she was very confused, and he could get no
further than Fichte. ... I went from there
rather late to Madame de Stael's, where a few
remained till past 12 discussing Pitt and Fox's
comparative merits with Tacitus and Demosthenes.
Madame de Stael strenuously argued Tacitus to be
superior to all the rest, and Ward as strenuously
put Pitt and Fox above Tacitus and Demosthenes.
Madame de Stael said Burke shot above the heads
of his auditors, which was agreed to, while Pitt was
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 379
said to have fired point blank. Madame de Stael
was indignant at an orator being put above the
historian, and it must be owned to have been dis-
interestedness in Sir James not to have agreed with
her.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
March 31, 18 14.
Mr. Dicot is come from Paris. . . He has
much to relate of the public spirit in Paris. He
came away on the 14th; he says the National Guard
of Paris refused, both collectively and individually, to
join Bonaparte's army; that it was proposed to eight
hundred of the officers in a body one by one. He
says they are resolved to capitulate if any corps of
the Allies approach the gates. He laughs at the
attempt to fortify the town. It seems part of the
Bois de Vincennes and Boulogne was cut for chevaux
de frise to protect the town against the Cossacks.
Bonaparte has been tres grossier in his language: he
told the Council of State that Robespierre was the
only great man produced by the Revolution; that he
knows not why himself is detested so much, as he
has not been as yet assez malheureux pour etre cruel,
and abuses them for their cry of Peace, Peace.
380 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
March 31, 1814.
. . . I hear there is a Royalist Committee at
Paris, and that Talleyrand communicates with them
through a relation. D'Ellioto sounds Augereau, who
professed to hate Bonaparte, but to be for a Regency.
Monni goes to Nanci, and Louis 18 waits the certain
account of the rupture of negotiations to set off for
Bordeaux. At Paris they shot people in the Bois de
Vincennes and filled the prisons, but now the police
dare not act, for the agents are known and would be
put to death immediately. This is very like insur-
rection.
Letter from the Countess of Liverpool.
Friday, April 18, 1 814.
Moniteurs are just arrived with most excellent
news. A provisional Government has been formed
at Paris, and their first act has been to set aside
Bonaparte and his family. Les Dames de la Halle
had waited on the Emperor Alexander, and had
called out, "Vive les Bourbons". God bless you. —
Yrs., Louisa Liverpool.
Frederick Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Paris, May 1, 1814.
My dearest Augustus, — I miss you sadly. The
noise drove me away from the Hotel de Bruxelles,
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 381
and I am now at the Hotel des Ministres de l'Uni-
versite, still more noisy, but in a different way.
Madame de Stael is arrived. I called on her yester-
day, and found her in high spirits, surrounded by a
crowd of admirers, and all talking, of course, of
Bonaparte. They say he took opium, but, the dose
having failed, he considers himself as preserved by
Destiny for great things yet; says he was formed to
rule the World, and as that failed, it little signifies
between France and Elba; that France with the old
limits could never have done, the army would not
have borne it. On the 24th March the inhabitants
of St. Dizier, I think, came to some of the Marshals
to know if they were to obey Bonaparte's order of
rising en masse. They replied, Oh, non; cette farce
est finie. F. Th. F.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Paris, May 3, 18 14.
. . . To-day there was a great review of all the
foreign troops, from 25,000 to 30,000, composing the
garrison.- The Russian Guards are really magnificent.
Louis XVIII. was at a window to see them pass.
The Emperor of Austria in the centre, with Alex-
ander on his left and Frederick on his right, passed
by me and joined the King to-night to go to Sir
Charles Stuart's1 ball given to Alexander. . . .
The old Guards certainly looked very brisk, and it
is not to be disguised that Bonaparte is much re-
1 Sir Charles Stuart— British Ambassador at Paris.
382 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
gretted by the troops of the line. Count Meister,
who used to be so sanguine, now occupies himself
with the King, is in transports of joy, and thinks the
Bourbons not so extremely severe; nevertheless so
many general officers are committed, and so strong
is the feeling against Napoleon in the middle orders,
that I cannot think there is cause for apprehension.
What has surprised everybody is the conduct of the
Milanese, for Eugene (Beauharnais)1 was really be-
lieved to have been a favourite with them.
The ball was highly interesting. . . . The
Emperor Alexander was there in an English
uniform for compliment; he was in stockings and
shoes, a thing rare for him, and yet he did not wear
the Garter, which we were surprised at; he puts
the Garter round his own Star zigzag, which makes
us English a little angry with him, as considering it is
too great a liberty thus to alter an order: he was
observed to pay great Court to La Marechale Ney;
he danced with her and spoke a great deal to Ney;
it is surmized that he wants to get as many Marshals
as he can into his Service; there is not half so much
fuss made with him at an assembly as with our
Prince (the Prince Regent); he had scarcely room
to pass, and backs were very often seen by him.
The Emperor of Austria and King of Prussia have
no fancy for balls it seems, but we had the two sons
of the King and hosts of German Princes, besides
Schwartzenberg, un gros de tres bonne physionomie;
8 Eugene (Beauharnais)— Son of the Empress Josephine by her first husband.
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 383
he has great frankness of countenance: there was
also old Blucher,1 with eight orders, looking like an
old Satyr: he frequents a gambling-house every
night and wins money : he is by no means so much
esteemed for his military talents here as he is in
London — indeed none of them are. An English
officer who was with the army of Blucher says if he
was to write his memoirs they would contain a
succession of their blunders. I saw my old Weimar
schoolfellow, Mounier's son, yesterday. He was
made private secretary to Napoleon, and was em-
ployed by him to translate the English and German
papers, of which the Courier, Times, and Morning
Chronicle were constantly received. He said the
Emperor treated him " quelquefois de Philosophe,
d' Anglomane ", and was proceeding to give Sir
Charles Stuart, with whom I went to see him, some
interesting details when Berthier2 entered en frac.
. . . Augereau3 himself gives the account I wrote
to you in my last: it was at Porte l'lsere he met
Napoleon, and M. De Fitzjames tells me an officer
who was with Augereau saw Bonaparte take out of
his pocket a copy of Augereau's proclamation to his
soldiers, and heard him ask, " Ah comment avez
vous pu dire ceci de moi ", but he heard nothing
more. Augereau took Bonaparte apart; they walked
together some time, and on parting embraced. The
soldiers of the Old Guard are very loud in their
discontent, and make no secret of their reproaches
1 Blucher— Field Marshal B. (1742-1819).
2 Berthier — Marshal B. He occupied the first place in the confidence of
Napoleon, and was with him in all his expeditions (1753-1815).
3 Augereau — Marshal A. (1757-1816).
384 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
of the generals for having betrayed them. Their
joy was very considerable, and no doubt they feel
the conquest at Paris, and there have been several
duels between them and the foreign troops. How-
ever, they are too few, and it would be too desperate
for them to attempt anything. General Drouet,1
who, like Bertrand,2 was brought up by Bonaparte
and pushed into a high situation, has accompanied
him, but everybody says it is " par point d'honneur
et par principe ", and not from attachment, that they
accompany him. He bought the Bible at Lyons, and
told the bookseller to address it to him as Empereur
Napoleon. . . . Think of Lord Wellington ar-
riving yesterday all at once like a great bomb just
before the review; he was then on a grey horse, en
chapeau rond, and people as soon as they knew it were
almost estropies in hurrying to see him. The Em-
peror Alexander had called on him immediately.
He looks worn and older than Mr. Pole. . . .
To-day we made a party to St. Cloud. Its having
been the favourite residence of Bonaparte was to me
its greatest attraction, though the view is delightful
and the rooms pretty magnificent. The concierge
said he kicked his servants, and the gardener thought
him amiable, and regretted him. They have taken
away Bonaparte's family pictures which were there,
and which Gerard supposes are to be sent to him in
lieu of the originals, as he cannot have them.
1 Drouet— Marshal D. (1765-1844). 2 Bertrand— General B. (1773-1844).
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 385
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Paris, May 5, 18 14.
Napoleon is off: he embarked at Frejus: he has
Elba in soverainete: he was obliged to put on a
white cockade near Avignon; to ride and to pass as
Lord Burghersh or Colonel Cambell, and even to cry
Louis 18. Lord Wellington came yesterday before
the review, where he was in plain clothes; crowds
pressed to see him. . . . All the world was at
Stewart's ball last night, and Alexander danced with
Madame Ney. People think he wants to get as
many Marshals as he can into his service.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Paris, May 7, 1814.
Paris, May 7, 18 14. . . . We are just come
from being presented to the King of Prussia. The
Duke of Wellington was there in the Blue Ribbon.
Yesterday the messenger arrived with the Gazette,
and in time for him to be presented as Duke to the
Emperor of Austria, who invested him with the
Grand Order of Maria Theresa, which he wore at
the opera. He was loudly applauded; hats taken
off; all stood up and hurrahed. The applause was
even greater than that given to the Duke of Berri,
who had come into the Royal box, and who was
repeatedly obliged to bow during the evening, the
386 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
piece given — " Colenetti " — having many allusions to
the Bourbons. . . . Yesterday we went to St.
Cloud. The Concierge says there is no servant with
Bonaparte but Ali, a Mamelouk, who had been sent
away through the jealousy of Rustan, and whom
Napoleon is too happy now to have. He can shave
himself, fortunately. I suppose the account of his
journey will be in all the papers. He cried a good
deal, I hear; but how flattering to us his confidence
in us. He was so taken up with saving himself and
baggage he did not seem to pay attention to the
circumstance of embarking at Frejus, which took
place there as more convenient than St. Trogues.
At St. Cloud the gardener seemed to regret him,
and described him as walking very amicably with the
Empress in an avenue every morning, when they
would embrace and separate. An Austrian who was
on guard there expressed surprise at the Empress
loving him as she did. He said all the Austrian and
Russian armies were firmly convinced the child was
not his son. We see very few of the French, and
at the opera there were not ten ladies to a hundred
men.
Elizabeth^ Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
May 8, 1814.
. . I did not suspect Bonaparte to have been
reduced to ride for his life, and to pass for an Eng-
lishman to save himself, and cry vive Louis 18!
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 387
What a lesson for ill weaned ambition! I am de-
lighted that the ceremony of the 3rd was so fine, and
the feeling so general for the King. We must ex-
pect some sadness amongst the troops, who, accus-
tomed for so long to war and plunder, almost dread
a state of quiet. . . .
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Paris, May 8, 1814.
May 8. — We went to Gerard's to-day. He is the
last who made a picture of Napoleon, and it bears
the mark of the Russian and Spanish campaigns.
There is a savage ferocity in the countenance that is
quite disgusting. I was much pleased at Gerard's
account of Drouet, who was a man hardly ever seen
at Court, but, having been advanced by Napoleon,
has thought it dishonourable to quit him. He even
told him that, having a few thousand livres of his
own, he should not be a burden upon him, but pay
his own expenses. What a contrast to his own
family! Pauline1 having refused to follow him, and
even his mother not coming forward to comfort him.
She was a most avaricious old jade, Gerard says,
that was always putting by, as she thought things
would not last. Gerard says the Queen of Naples is
the best of the sisters, and Eliza the most like him.
His face was covered with tears on his journey at
one place, and the next day he talked of the Powers
1 Pauline — Sister of Napoleon, married first to General Leclerc, and secondly to
Prince C. Borghese (1780-1825).
388 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
of Europe as if he was at the Tuileries. ... I
find Bernadotte1 had a great party here, as had Maria
Louisa,2 and as the former missed stays (excuse a sea
term) the latter would have had his men had she
stayed here. I saw Madame De Coigny to-day,
who thought so too. ... I saw Weissenberg
at Castlereagh's last night. He says Bonaparte did
tell him he should have fared better had he married
a Russian, and thinks had Maria Louisa stayed at
Paris she would have much embarrassed him. Bona-
parte had commissioned Weissenberg to abdicate for
him in favour of his son. Madame De Coigny and
another lady I saw at her house think there is no
doubt she would be Regent had she stayed. Through-
out the Austrian and Russian army it is believed the
King of Rome is not his son, but Weissenberg de-
clares he is very like him, and it is "malheureusement
trop vrai ".
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
June, 1 8 14.
. . . I am sure you must have been sorry for
poor Josephine's death.3 It seems to have been
very sudden, and I dare say will afflict Napoleon if
he ever had any feeling. They say he is very busy
arranging his Court. I suppose he will actually leave
no stone unturned in his whole island. . . .
1 Bernadotte— Marshal B., afterwards King of Sweden (1764-1844).
2 Marie Louise— Second wife of Napoleon (1791-1847).
'Josephine's death— She died 29th May, 1814.
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 389
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
[Fragment of a letter written from Paris in 1814.]
Mr. saw Napoleon often after the retreat
from Leipzig, and says he was not changed in
manner, as could be perceived, except that he took
larger doses of snuff than was usual, and in a more
hurried manner; and when the Legislative Body-
met he hurried across the hall to his throne and
back again in rather a precipitate manner. You
know Captain Usher kept a regular journal while on
board; it must be very curious: a general Montoro
and family have been to see Elba : they saw Napoleon,
who invited them to return in a few hours, and they
would find him surrounded by his Court. In effect,
he had a little theatre fitted up for the mock assem-
blage of his Elba courtiers. Lord Liverpool says
nothing surprizes him but this mania of being sover-
eign in little; to me, however, it appears reconcilable
to the general feature of his character, namely, con-
tempt of the whole human race, whom he uses as
the servile instruments of his power, or of his
amusements. I wish you could see my schoolfellow,
Le Mounier, who was his private secretary for six
years.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
1814.
Bernadotte is quite fallen with every body. One
half Paris seems to blame his conduct to Bonaparte,
390 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
and the other his slowness. He had it in his power
to act a magnificent part, and he has ruined himself
by too nice calculations: however, Alexander will
still help him in Norway. He stands as high as it
is possible for man; every body praises him. The
Parisians, however, are not yet quite rid of their
fears for the Museum; he was observed to be noting
several articles a few days ago which has excited
alarm. Madame de Stael called here yesterday,
and was full of contempt for the French character
and of blame of Bernadotte. There is a great sore-
ness at the having a foreign garrison in Paris. One
meets with all colours of foreign uniforms galloping
in every direction, and Germans and Russians stand-
ing sentinels in almost every street. The generals
and Ministers are quartered upon French houses.
Castlereagh was put into that of the Ministre du
tresor publique, Cathcart1 into Berthier's at first,
afterwards into Junot's,2Lord Aberdeen intoArrighi's.3
The latter's Aide de Camp swore at first he should
not come in, but Aberdeen very spiritedly threatened
to send a party of Cossacks to bivouack in his yard;
then they surrendered, though he carried away every
article of furniture till he found Aberdeen was a
quiet gentlemanlike man, and then he sent a few
articles of furniture, and came back to lodge in the
second story himself. The foreign troops are going
soon, and the King of Prussia is to set off in a week
for England. Last night at the Theatre des Varietes
they acted Le Souper de Henry IV., in which there
1 Cathcart— -Lord C, British general, d. 1814.
^Junot— Marshal J. (1771-1813). 3 Arrighi — General A. (1778-1853).
FROM FREDERICK FOSTER. 39 1
is a great deal inserted for the occasion and with
great judgment, full of moderation and of menage -
ment for the military glory of the Nation, and it was
received with great applause. It is impossible to
stand higher than the English do here; people of all
sorts are striving which shall best express the feeling
to us. The French, too, open themselves to us
without scruple upon their affairs. One man at
Amiens absolutely shed tears at the degradation of
his country when he found himself alone with
Frederick. The Prussians behave well in the great
towns, but commit a great deal of injustice in the
villages; one told me they had Champagne enough
to bathe in in Champagne. ... I should add
here that Bernadotte is well satisfied with his allies,
but when a levde he was to have had was put off,
ill natured persons endeavoured to make out it was
because few persons were likely to attend.
Frederick Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Marseilles, Dec. 27, 1814.
My dearest Augustus. . . . We have seen
Massena. He is, I believe, stingy, but very civil,
and very interesting to see. Bonaparte on embark-
ing for Elba sent him his amitids, c'est un brave
homme je l'aime fort — but Massena says he, Bona-
parte, loves nobody; that once when he was ill,
Bonaparte never took the least notice of him, never
even sent to enquire, and that at another time, when
392 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
he was also unwell, and that Bonaparte had need of
his services, he used to come and see him three or
four times a day. He thinks he was a man de grandes
conceptions, particularly when things went on well,
but that in adverse fortune he failed. Believes that
Austria wishes to have it in her power to "lacker un
tel dogue" against Russia and France; yet Massena
seemed to have a kind of liking for him ; said that it
was him who had named him l' enfant de la Victoire,
and pointing to his great coat said he was happier
when he bought that, it was at Vienna. He wishes
for war, if it was only to push forward his son.
Massena is much broken and altered from what I
remember him at the peace of Amiens. He and
Wellington met at Paris, and after a stare' Massena
said, "Milord, vous m avez fait bien penser". "Et vous
Monsieur le Marichal vous m'avez souvent empichS, de
dormir." We have heard here the same account of
Bonaparte's southern journey as we did at Paris in
May. At Dijon they gave L B the same
Bidet that poor Napoleon rode when disguised as a
courier. M told that at Orgon he got out of the
carriage pour , and trembled excessively: had
he passed through here they tell us he could not have
escaped — and indeed this is far the most Bourbon
town we have seen. F. T. F.
FROM ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 393
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
Marseilles, December 30, 1814.
Massena1 lives in the same street with us; he is
full of attention to us, and, though broken in health
and spirits, animates on topicks which interest him.
I heard that he would not talk about Bonaparte,
and I was fearful, though very anxious, to name
the subject. Last night we went to the prefect's,
who has a fine house, and gave a very pretty ball.
Massena sat between Lady Bessborough and me;
he said something about Grassini. "Oh," I said,
too happy to find an occasion, " Etoit ce quand
Bonaparte fut si amoureux d'elle?" " Bonaparte,"
his eye assuming a stern expression, " Bonaparte n'a
jamais aime personne, personne." I then went on
from one thing to another, I found I could do so,
and it was very interesting. " Quelle impression,
Monsieur le Marechale, vous fit il, quand vous
le connutes premierement?" " Un grand orgueil,
Madame la Duchesse. Je l'ai connu qu'il n'etoit
que Lieutenant colonel — des moyens, et pour cela
de grand moyens, surtout dans la prosperity; dans
l'adversite il manquoit de t6te, il n'avoit rien de grand."
Of himself he said, "il m'aimoit ou en faisoit semblant,
car jamais il n'a rien aim6 que son ambition; il me
tutoya c'etoit a Milan quand il commandoit en chef
qu'il me dit, ' Massena ne voudroit tu etre un des
directeurs?' ' Non,' je lui repondit, ' je ne me con-
nais pas en politique, je ne sais faire que la guerre —
1 Massena — Marshal M. (1758-1817).
394 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
mais toi ne voudrais tu pas en etre?' II me repondit
' avec quatre imbiciles, non, moi seul out'." He
continued, " C'est lui qui m'a baptise enfant de la
victoire — et bien, avec cela je fis une chute qui
m'empechoit d'etre avec l'armee; il vint quatre fois
la nuit me voir." "Mais cela," I said, " marquoit
quelque sensibilite." " II avoit besoin de moi. Je fis
une maladie apres, non seulement il ne vint pas; il
n'envoya pas meme savoir de mes nouvelles." Many
other things he told us, and we talked about, and it
was very interesting. I'm afraid he don't live as he
ought to do, but to us, &c, &c.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Date? 1814.
... I hope to get a letter from you at Gothen-
burg, and long to know if you think that Audrey
Townsend will be prevailed upon to change her
mind, or if you advise me to renounce all hope. If
she will but authorize me I would write for leave on
my return from Norway and go and meet her where-
ever she is. I am sure we should be very happy,
though she would only laugh at me if I was to say I
was in love with her, yet I think of her every day
and in every arrangement I make, and have her
beautiful clean hair and light little figure continually
before my eyes. If you think a line from me would
have any effect pray send the inclosed. She must
have now settled her mind about it, and I should
not wish to be kept merely in hope. . . .
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 395
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
January 10, 181 5.
. . . Mr. Bourke tells me that Massena three
years ago was very ill, but would not be persuaded
by his wife to consult a physician, on which she
went to Bourgon, a physician, and told him the
reason was Massena's unwillingness to pay the neces-
sary fee, begging the physician to come and see him
as a friend, which he did, and recommended him to
change his climate: then he went to Nice. This
he told me a propos to your observation about his
cuisine. Madame Massena described him to Bour-
gon as having des millions, but being more chary of
an ecu now than he was when he had scarcely one.
Frederick Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Marseilles, March 4, 1815.
My dearest Augustus, — Here's pretty news in-
deed. I was woke this morning out of a sweet
sleep with "You had better get up, Sir, there are
crowds of soldiers and people in the streets. Bona-
parte is landed at Cannes." I got up in a hurry
and rushed to the Prefect's, and, in short, the history
is that the Emperor Napoleon has, in four or five
transports, and a zebeck carrying himself and his
staff, landed at Cannes on the first or early the
second March with about 1200 or 2000 men. He
396 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
attempted to surprize Antibes, but the Governor
was firm, and at Cannes the mayor behaved very-
well. Bonaparte asked him why he wore a white
cockade; he replied he had taken an oath to be
faithful to Louis 18, and would remain so, and that
he might do with him as he pleased. He is gone in
the direction of Dauphiny. Troops are gone from
Toulon in pursuit, and from this place they have
been marching all night. The Prefect's Proclama-
tion don't name him, but says that quelques salari6s
de l'lsle d'Elba have landed, and that they ought
to be glad of this mad attempt of the Exile" de l'lsle
d'Elba, as he will now receive the punishment due
to his forfaits. Bonaparte has distributed Procla-
mations. I have not as yet seen any of them, but I
am told they contain great abuse of Marmont1 and
Augereau. They are in General Bertrand's name.
The whole of Marseilles is, of course, in great
anxiety; it is a very Bourbon place, and the white
flag waves almost from every window; the National
Guards are all out, and we are in a great bustle.
The conduct of the French Government seems
inconceivable. Colonel Campbell, on leaving the
island, warned them to be on their guard, and they
had only two frigates to cruise. At Grasse he
stopped and bought stores and paid for them; his
six pieces of cannon he has been forced to leave
behind him from the badness of the roads. What
a noise this will make in England! What second
editions of the Courier! O you wise Ministers, to
send him to such a place as Elba; several soldiers
1 Marmont — Marshal M. (1774-1852).
FROM ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 397
landed from there lately and were from suspicious
conduct arrested, and a great deal of money found
on them, with which they had been endeavouring to
bribe their former comrades. I forgot to tell you
that the Prince de Monaco was met plump by Bona-
parte, who stopped him for a couple of hours and
then let him go. Estafettes are gone off in all
directions; it's inconceivable, I think, his hazarding
this without being pretty sure of a strong party to
support him. Flahault, a son of the famous Madame
de Souza, was suspected of intriguing for him. Did
you hear of a sarcasm of Talleyrand to him ? F. was
talking of the difficulties of his position; that, in his
position, favoured as he had been by the Emperor,
he did not know what to do, and that in short his
position embarrassed him very much. Talleyrand
with his cold sneer said, vous avez done une position,
Monsieur de Flahault. I wonder what will be
Talleyrand's position now at the Congress, and when
will that eternal Congress end? . . .
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
Marseilles, March 7, 18 15.
Caro will tell you about Bonaparte. Was there
ever any thing so extraordinary! The spirit here is
excellent, and late last night a traveller who saw him
at Sisteron says his force was reduced to 400. People
generally seem to think it a desperate effort made on
the idea that he was to be removed from Elba — that
398 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
the great mass of the Nation is against him — a part
of the army for him, and even they would hesitate at
fighting against friends and relations. Eight hundred
marched from here yesterday — Guards, volunteers,
troops of the line ; the concourse which accompanied
them was immense and touching to see. Monsieur
de Riviera dined with us on Saturday, and at the
Prefect's Sunday: he saw Massena late Sunday, and
was quite satisfied with him. My love to Albinia,
who, I hope, will be my daughter by the time you
receive my letter.
Frederick Foster
To Augustus Foster.
Marseilles, March 8, 1815.
I wrote to you a day or two ago with the first
account of Bonaparte's landing, and I now will add
the few details I have heard since. He was so sure
of having possession of Antibes that his manuscript
proclamations are dated thence. He has had the
wicked cunning of dressing two or three of his
officers in English uniforms, and as he has gone on
he has given out that the English are for him, that
he landed from an English frigate, and that all
France recalls him to the throne. He appears to be
almost sunburnt black, and to be excessively fat ; his
men are said to be in a wretched state, and some
have deserted. Nothing can be more active and
fine than the conduct of the Prefect Marquis
d'Allecetas or of Comte de Panisse, Commander of
the National Guards. The spirit of the people is
FROM FREDERICK FOSTER. 399
quite perfect. Many of the principal young men of
the place have marched as common soldiers. Some
merchants here have dismissed all their workmen to
enable them to march, and still continue their pay or
wages; yet the confusion this fellow has created is
very great. They had just received their franchise,
and every thing was reviving, and now every thing
is at a stand. Bonaparte seems to proceed with the
greatest coolness; at least, he affects it. He has
brought his cook with him, and left his carriage at
Grasse, to wait, as he said, for his mother and sister
Pauline. At any town he comes to he orders rations
for six or seven thousand men, so that the inhabitants
are terrified and stupefied; however, his freaks that
way will be soon found out; the whole country is in
arms, high and low, rich and poor, and, excepting a
few stupid or treacherous public functionaries, every
body behaves perfectly. We expect one of the
Princes here to take the command in the South.
Precy has marched from Lyons, and Lecourbe, they
say, from Briancjon, and the King of Sardinia has
granted the passes of his mountains. If the worst
comes to the worst, and he gets the upper hand, they
are determined to make a Spanish war of it, and
never to submit. However, I think it will be soon
over with him. I am sorry to interrupt your Hy-
meneal Pleasures with wars and rumours of wars,
and hope Albinia will forgive me.
400 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Frederick Foster,
To Augustus Foster.
Marseilles, March 9, 1815.
You will be too much engrossed with one another
to care about news; yet the extraordinary event of
Bonaparte's being in France will rouse your atten-
tion. Three times to-day have we been told that
Bonaparte has been taken, and the whole town has
poured out with acclamations of joy; but, alas, it is
not so ; the news, however, is satisfactory as far as it
goes. . . . The only thing for us to mention is
the excellent spirit of the people, the noble conduct
of the gentlemen and noblesse, and the rapid marches
which the National Guard have made with the troops.
They are now within two leagues of Bonaparte.
Monsieur1 arrived at Lyons yesterday with Marshal
Ney and Comte de Dumas. Bonaparte speaks with
astonishing assurance of the numbers that will join
him, but none of whom have done so. He enters
a village and orders rations for six thousand men,
having only eight hundred. He tells the people that
Massena is manoeuvring with twenty-five thousand
men near Paris, and that the King has fled to Lisle.
It looks well his telling such falsehoods. The people
here were growing dissatisfied with Massena: he has
at last published a proclamation, in which he ends by
saying that he shall spill the last drop of his blood to
defend the lawful King. It had an immediate effect
on the funds, which rose. Bonaparte left his horse
1 Monsieur — Louis, brother of Louis XVI. , whom he afterwards succeeded as
Louis XVIII. (1755-1824).
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 40I
lamed at Sisteron, and forgot a fine spying glass
there. He wears a cuirass over his coat.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Whitehall, March 10, 181 5.
We have just heard of Bonaparte's having landed
between Antibes and Nice with a thousand, and of
the King of France's proclamation. Lord Fitzroy
Somerset sent it. I own I am confounded with this
news. The worst is the uncertainty of knowing who
is and who is not a friend. I trust Marshal Massena
will take care of you, and let you set off for Paris
and the north; and I trust in your admirable good
sense and decision, or I should be greatly alarmed.
. . . People look thunderstruck at this news. . . .
Your house will be let on Monday for a year — viz.,
to March 12, 18 16. I cannot alter it now, for Lord
Byron is in the country.
W. H. Hill (H. M. Minister at Turin)
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Turin, April 12, 1815.
Dear Duchess, — I have just received your letter
of the 9th, and, having discharged my conscience as
to the little danger of being shut up in Genoa (and
I think it is but little), I will tell you all I know
of Murat. By our last accounts he was still at
2C
402 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Guastalla, but we expect every hour to hear of his
moving. You are very right, I hope, in your
calculation of one great defeat destroying him, and
not the Austrians. The latter will not have less
than 175 thousand troops in Italy when all their
reinforcements arrive, but they have scarcely a third
of that number at present. Murat has beat the
Austrians once in a pretty smart though not general
affair (Don't quote me for this bad news), but if he
does not beat them most decisively in a pitched
battle within three weeks, I trust he has no chance,
for by that time a great body of Austrian reinforce-
ments will arrive. So prevalent is the idea of
Murat's reaching Milan that the Marquis D'O. has
just been telling me it is universally reported here
that he is already there. This is ridiculous. There
is the Po between him and the Austrians, i.e., the
great force of the latter is on the other side. If you
are determined to go to Genoa you had better make
haste, and you will be at the head-quarters of all
news. It was full of English, but they are beginning
to move. The Col di Tenda is very passable.
Mr. Burrell came over it and went to Genoa this
morning, but if you have set your heart upon going
there now I can only hope there is no danger.
Murat's army is increasing; he has been joined by
many old soldiers. Italy discontented, and his pro-
clamations revolutionary. The news from Vienna is
good — eight hundred thousand troops to be ready
next month. Many European Powers appear to
have signed against Bonaparte. The Emperor
Alexander at Prague hurrying his troops through
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 403
Bohemia. The Sovereigns have not yet met at
Frankfort, but are still, it is said, to meet there.
It is reported the King of France, after arriving at
Ostend, was invited to join them at Frankfort. In
the meanwhile, what is to become of the South of
France? We are in the greatest distress upon that
subject. Yours ever, W. H.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Whitehall, April 22, 1815.
. . . Caro has got yours of the 6th. What an
interesting diary! and how Massena deceived you!
How covered with crimes and disgraceful perjuries
are almost all Bonaparte's generals and followers,
and how they render the race of Frenchmen de-
testable and disgusting! I have seen D'Aumont,
who was cheated and thwarted by Augereau at Caen.
D'Aumont had his volunteers in the Castle, but
Augereau was his superior, and sent an order for the
admission of some artillery, and D'Aumont could not
refuse. When matters were becoming desperate,
D'Aumont wanted to carry off the caisses for the
King, but Augereau sent an order that not a sous
should be touched without his signature. He found
gens d'armes following him and preceding him wher-
ever he went, and two at his door. At length
Augereau, who had been in the habit of dining with
him, advised him to be off, and when he said, But
you run as much risk as me, oh! non, the scoundrel
404 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
answered, C'est different pour moi, mais peut £tre
que demain je recevrais l'ordre de vous arreter. So
he embarked in a boat in the river, and came in a
storm to England. . . .
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
Milan, June 21, 1815.
Madame de Stael has shown a great deal
of character. Bonaparte sent to tell her he would
pay her the debt which Louis 18 had acknowledged,
but on condition that she would return to Paris.
She has resisted, which is the more remarkable, as
B. Constant1 and Sismondi2 are both won over.
What a crisis we are at! It is fearful to think of.
Your King, the papers say, is going to join the
other Sovereigns. Murat dethroned makes Italy
quiet, I think, for some time at least. . . .
The Honble. Mrs. George Lamb
To Augustus Foster.
Richmond, June 30, 1815.
What wonderful events,3 my dear Augustus, since
I last wrote to you; how glorious to England, but
how dearly bought. Poor Frederick Howard! his
death, as you may imagine, has affected his family
very much. Mrs. Howard is miserable, and has
1 Constant — Benjamin C. (1767-1830).
2 Sismondi — John S., historian (1773-1842).
1 Wonderful events — The battle of Waterloo, &c.
FROM THE HONBLE. MRS. GEORGE LAMB. 405
scarcely spoken since. Frederick Ponsonby happily
is doing well, and is out of danger, but his wounds
very bad ones : both arms were shot, and three stabs
in the body. In this dreadful state he lay all night,
and was, besides, rode over by the Prussian Cavalry,
and, of course, is bruised all over; it is wonderful, I
think, that he survived it; but he is, thank God,
recovering rapidly. The consequences, too, of the
victory are so great that it heightens the glory of it.
Bonaparte's abdication, it must be hoped, will stop
all further bloodshed. What is to be done with him
is the puzzling question now, and who is to succeed?
The forcing the Bourbons back upon them seems a
violent measure, and one they are strongly against,
but yet one dreads their electing young Napoleon
unless Bonaparte was out of the way. All sorts of
reports are afloat to-day. It was said he had put
himself under Lord Wellington's protection. He
had better. I dare say he would have more honour
towards him than those treacherous Frenchmen, who
make it a system to give up one Sovereign after the
other the moment they are in adversity. As to pri-
vate affairs, I suppose you have heard of your friend
Lord Aberdeen's marriage to Lady Hamilton1 — two
miserable creatures. He says, What else have we to
do? The truth is, she is beautiful and he is very
much in love with her.
1 Lady Hamilton — Widow of Viscount Hamilton. Lord Aberdeen's first wife
had been dead more than three years.
406 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Copenhagen, July u, 1815.
. . , Gordon is said to have lost his life in
screening Lord Wellington. Having in vain urged
the Duke to quit the place where he was, he rode up
to put himself before him, and so received the ball.
Other letters say he was pulling the bridle of the
horse to get him out of the way. What a tremen-
dous contest, but what a decisive overthrow! Boney's
own account does us justice as much almost as one
could wish. How curious if he really has gone from
Havre to England. I hope we shall give refuge to
none of his dastardly generals who have so often
perjured themselves.
. . . The King of Denmark sends the Elephant1
to Wellington and Blucher and to our Prince Regent.
It is a right thing to do, and it is, I suppose, the
order Hamlet wore. A propos to the latter, there is
an old chronicle about him by the Danish historian,
Saxo Grammaticus, who nourished in the thirteenth
century, and it is probably from this that Shakespeare
took his story; but I am sorry to say the Danish
Ophelia was an improper lady employed to betray
Hamlet, though she deserves to be called proper, for
notwithstanding she consented to his wishes she
kept his secret. The Danish Hamlet feigns madness,
and manages the death of Rosencranz and Guilder-
stern, as Shakespeare says, but he marries both an
1 Elephant — The Danish order of the ' ' Elephant "-
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 407
English and a Scotch Princess, and, returning to
Denmark, feigns madness again, then sets fire to the
palace, stabs the King, and gets possession of the
throne, when he reigns gloriously for several years,
and at last is killed in a duel with the King of Jut-
land. The Danish historian makes him out a fine
character, and, particularly, says he never told an
untruth during his madness. His speech to his
mother is real, and so is the killing of Polonius,
though the latter is killed under a heap of straw
instead of behind tapestry. The story of the Ghost
seems to be Shakespeare's, as also the manner of
the murder. The whole is a long story, and there
are several eloquent speeches of Hamlet to the
Troops.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Copenhagen,/^ 23, 181 5.
I hope you received my account of Ham-
let. I have to add that the story of Hamlet belongs
to about the year 550, and I was mistaken about the
history, which was written in the beginning of the
thirteenth century, but only printed in the sixteenth.
I must add the remark of Saxo-Grammaticus, the
historian, on Amleth's death, which was caused by
his fighting with inferior forces against Vigletus,
chief of the Scandians and Zeelanders. He says
such was the end of Amleth, who, if he had experi-
enced an equal kindness from fortune as from nature,
would have equalled the Gods in brilliancy of deeds,
408 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
and surpassed Hercules in the acts of virtue. He
adds that his burial was magnificent, and that there
exists a field in Jutland called after him.
The Hon. Mrs Lamb
To Augustus Foster.
Holland House, Sept., 1815.
. . . One day Captain Maitland of the Bellero-
phon dined here, and you may believe we questioned
him very much about Napoleon. He has been very
much hurt at being accused of being too civil to him,
as he merely treated him with the usual forms of
civility, which surely it would have been very wrong
to refuse to any great man in adversity. He was
delighted at the crowds who came to see him, and
always shewed himself whenever he might be about.
Madame Bertrand attempted to drown herself upon
finding they were to go to St. Helena, saying she
was the cause of his coming on board that ship.
Frederick Ponsonby has been here too, who is quite
well again, and grown very fat. He has not re-
covered the use of his arms, but is in hopes that he
shall in time. His quiet and simple account of all he
suffered is very interesting. He never lost his recol-
lection, and says it was not pleasant to see the
Prussian cavalry advancing, and that it hurt a good
deal. Lord and Lady Byron have also been here.
She is to lie in in November. He appears very
happy, and is very much improved by his marriage.
FROM ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 409
George1 and he are two of the new managers of
Drury Lane, very eager about it, and, as it has
hitherto gone on very well, it is only a great amuse-
ment to them.
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
Florence, October 21, 181 5.
Some 01 my letters, I think, must have missed,
or you would have seen my indignation at Massena's
conduct before I left Marseilles, and I told dear
Riviera so at Toulon. You will soon hear of Murat's2
fate. Mr. Sneyd brought the news from Rome to-
day that he had been shot. It was so reported last
night at Mme. Apponis', and people thought it was
very unfeeling of Lady Oxford to be there, and as
merry as if he was still on the throne of Naples. She
asked me if I was going to Naples, adding that she
thought it quite a paradise, and that she lived in
friendship with the former Government. I said that
I should not go to Naples, but that my friendship
was with the present King, to whom my brother had
been much attached and most kindly treated. She is
a strange woman. I suppose it will make some sen-
sation. He must have been mad. He sailed from
Corsica, telling them to steer for Tunis : arrived at
a certain point he told them to steer for Calabria: a
storm dispersed two of his feluccas; with the third
he arrived on the coast of Calabria: he called to the
1 George — The Hon. George Lamb, brother of William Lamb who succeeded to
the title of Viscount Melbourne.
^Murat — Marshal M., King of Naples (1767-1815).
4IO THE TWO DUCHESSES.
people to shout Viva Giacchino, that he was come
to re-enter his kingdom. The peasants fought him;
he defended himself stoutly, but was overpowered,
bound, and carried to a Sicilian general, who had him
shot; and so, I think, that dynasty is at an end. He
was such a false, shabby fellow, except in personal
courage, that I can hardly pity him. . . .
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Dublin, December 31, 1815.
. . . I hope Massena will get well that you
may see him. I hear the Duke de Richlieu is likely
all in favor at the Tuilleries, and that the Duke de
Choiseul Gouffier is also in great favor. You don't
mention to whom Napoleon spoke about the Sim-
plon, &c. Caro says it only prejudices her in favor
of Napoleon to hear of the calm with which he bears
his misfortunes. One cannot certainly help pitying
a fallen man, but he seems to have more of apathy
than calm, and he surely ought to be repentant or
shew some remorse for the evils he has done. I
fear he despises men too much to think them worth
caring about. He told Vernon the opposition was
very low, and Vernon answered it was because
they had predicted the conquest of Spain by him.
You don't say any thing of Mme. de Stael's reported
? with Rocca,1 so I conclude it is a report you
despise, though some will have it your silence argues
1 Rocca — She had been secretly married to this young man for several years.
FROM ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 41 1
that there is something in it. She told a friend of
mine in speaking of Ward " quel dommage qu'avec
un si beau talent il soit si egoiste et si incapable
d'une veritable amitie ".
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Copenhagen, Jan 6, 18 16.
Albinia has made me a Papa. The event hap-
pened at 1 p.m. on the 3rd. . . .
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
RoME,/a«. 26, 1 8 16.
I see Canova1 often. He is delightful,
and gives the idea of what the great artists were in
1500. He says he believes his statue of Bonaparte
which is at Paris is to be ceded to the Prince
Regent, and that he means to place it in the house
to be built for Wellington. His own favourite
statue, a nymph which is here, he wants to give to
the Prince, for Canova is the most liberal person
ever known. ... I hope the powers mean in
earnest to do something to protect their coasts from
the Barbaresques. It is dreadfull to have whole
families carried off and sold in Africa; besides, as
we have taken Malta, we are called upon to supply
1 Canova — (1757-1822).
412 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
the place of the Knights who used to protect them.
How happy Sir Sidney must have been — knighted
by the Duke of Wellington. . . .
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
ROME, February 9, 1 8 16.
Rome is too, too beautiful. Gonsalvi1 and I are
such friends that when we are at the same place the
crowd gives way for him to come up to me. He
is doing much here, and it is delightfull to see the
encouragement given to improvements of all kinds,
and the publick walks are finishing. An interesting
scavato is to take place next month at Preneste. . . .
Bonaparte used to say of his sisters2 that Madame
Murat was l'ambitieuse; Madame Bajocchi, la
spirituelle; and the Princess Borghese, la jolie; but
they said, " apres son mariage avec l'Autrichienne il
paroissoit avoir honte de nous ".
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Copenhagen, Feb. 27, 1816.
... I hear a report that Lord and Lady Byron
have separated from incompatibility. I should not
be surprised, but hope it is not so. . . .
1 Gonsalvi — Cardinal G., Roman Prime Minister.
2 His sisters — Carlotta (afterwards named Marie Pauline), married to Prince C.
Borghese; Maria Anna (afterwards named Elise), married to Felix Baciocchi, a
Corsican soldier; she was created by her brother Princess of Piombino, and is
said to have been more respected perhaps than any other member of the Bonaparte
family ; and Annunziata (afterwards named Caroline), wife of Joachim Murat,
whom Napoleon created King of Naples.
FROM ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 413
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Mrs. Foster.
Rome, March 8, 18 16.
. . We have a squadron, I hear, arrived at
Leghorn, which, I hope, is to protect these coasts
against the barbaresques. It is very shocking that
there should be a vessel left them to carry off whole
families from these countries, and whilst we are forc-
ing all countries to abolish the slave trade, we allow,
for the sake of gain, of this worst of all slavery of
Christians to the Algerines. If Augustus was in
Parliament, and in England, I should like him to
take up this cause. What a fair one for a young
and ardent mind ! We are all astonished here at the
separation of Lord and Lady Byron. You will have
heard of it from England. Nobody knew the cause
when my last letters were written, but every body
seemed to pity her. So do I too; but yet I think
that, had I married a profligate man, knowing that
he was so, and that I had a child, and was not ill
used by him, I would not part from him. . . .
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
March 22, 1816.
Lady Byron's fate is the most melancholy I ever
heard, and he must be mad or a Caligula. Caro will
have told you some of the stories. It is too shocking,
and her life seems to have been endangered whilst
414 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
with him from his cruelty, and now by her sufferings.
I pity her from my heart: she might have been a
happy person. ... I am sure I have mentioned
Thorwaldsen,1 whom I admire very much, but when
they attempt to place him above, or equal to, Canova,
I think it is like comparing cinque cento to the
antique ; but he is very good, and full of genius, but
idle. . . England seems in an odd state : opposi-
tion strong, and making shabby obstacles to publick
monuments; foolish remonstrances against guards at
the Prince Regent's levee; and an odd marriage
decided on for the future Queen of England; yet
every body speaks well of Prince Leopold of Saxe
Cobourg, and he is very handsome. Some say that
Lord Liverpool is out of favor.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
March 23, 18 16.
. . . Caroline seems quite shocked at Lord
Byron's conduct to poor Annabel, but don't give me
the particulars. They were certainly two very
opposite people to come together, but she would
marry a poet and reform a rake. As to him, he has
at length proved himself the true Childe Harold.
1 Thorwaldsen (1770-1844).
FROM THE COUNTESS OF LIVERPOOL. 415
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
April 6, 1 8 16.
Thorwaldsen is very clever, but terribly lazy. . . .
Poor Lady Byron's fate is enough to alarm all
parents. She is wretched, ill, and persecuted by
him, who now refuses to sign the deeds of separation.
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
Rome, April 6, 1816.
Canova is delightful, and has the en-
thusiasm so necessary to make a good artist. . . .
The Countess of Liverpool
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Fife House, May ^d, 18 16.
I must write one line to you, dearest sister, to tell
you that I was at the Royal marriage1 yesterday, and
not the worse for the exertion, though I had a return
of ? , and had been bled two days before.
Lord Liverpool did not venture, though nearly well.
Dr. Pemberton was afraid the heat and the standing
might have brought on a relapse of his complaint.
Nothing could go off better than the whole ceremony
1 Royal Marriage — Marriage of the Princess Charlotte, daughter of the Prince
of Wales, to Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg (afterwards King of the Belgians).
41 6 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
did in all its parts. The Bride and Bridegroom
looked very handsome, and every body was very
struck and pleased with the very uncommon manner
in which they both followed through the service in
their prayer books and distinctly and earnestly pro-
nounced their mutual vows. May they be happy!
I wish it from my very heart! They are gone to
Oatlands for about a week. When the ceremony
was over the Princess knelt to her father for his
blessing, which he gave her, and then raised and
gave her a good hearty, paternal hug that delighted
me, and took her up to the Queen, who kissed her, as
did her Aunts. The Prince Regent then embraced
his son-in-law, and afterwards took him up to the
Queen, who embraced him, as did the Princesses.
They all like him extremely, and, indeed, it is im-
possible not to like him. His manners are perfect,
particularly quiet, and mildly dignified without any
affectation, but great self-possession. They say he
is as truly amiable as he is pleasing, and very re-
ligious, which gives the greatest satisfaction here. . . .
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Copenhagen, May 18, 1816.
Caroline relieved me much about poor
Lady Caroline Lamb. I was afraid it had been
madness, but, though bad enough, it seems to have
been a passionate fit against her page, and will prob-
ably be a good lesson to her. It is impossible not
FROM THE COUNTESS OF LIVERPOOL. 417
to feel some regard for her from old times, and it is
really painful to see so delightful a person as she
once was in absolute danger of committing so horrid
a crime, and so entirely unmanageable. I must say
I think her husband is a great deal to blame, for,
had he studied a little more Shakespeare's taming of
the shrew, he might have checked her, at least so as
to prevent such dreadful and shameful excesses in a
disposition not naturally wicked. I cannot conceive
what it was Lord Byron did to his wife. You
thought her wrong at first, but now you find her
grossly injured. . . .
Countess of Liverpool
To Elizabeth, Dtichess of Devonshire.
Coombe Wood, July 17, 1816.
. , . I saw the Bishop of London two days
ago, and he gave me some comfort about poor
Sheridan.1 The Bishop assured me that during his
last visit Mr. Sheridan, though too weak to speak,
most decidedly joined in prayer, and by very ex-
pressive gestures applied to himself every word
which particularly mentioned the mercy of God,
the mediation of our Saviour, the great sinfulness of
his own life, and the blessed hope of pardon founded
on repentance through the merits of our Redeemer.
Poor man! his terror of death had been dreadful,
but that his last feelings were those of humble hope.
The good dear Bishop has taken Mrs. Sheridan
1 Poor Sheridan — Richard Brinsley S. (1751-1816).
2D
418 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
home to his own house. She has scarce left her
bed since her husband's death. She has some hope-
less inward complaint — it was her who first sent for
the Bishop.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Copenhagen, August 13, 1816.
. . . I have read Glenarvon,1 and only just
read it. . . . As for the story, I had not patience
to get through it, it is so disordered and confused,
but the traits of character, the sentiments, and the
uncommon impudence that runs through it is to me
astonishing; yet, if Lord Avondale reads it, he must
be a little conscience struck at his character of a free
thinker, for I am convinced that, with all his good
and noble qualities, he was used to scout at all fixed
principles, and taught her, or helped her, to do the
same. Glenarvon seems almost too bad for nature,
yet agrees very much with the being it is meant for,2
and squares in with his own portrait in the Corsair,
Childe Harold, &c. She don't give me the idea of
being at all cured, notwithstanding her confessions.
I had a letter from Adair the other day, who says he
has made it a matter of conscience not to read the
book, and talks of her as going on the same as ever.
I sadly fear some bad end for her; she certainly is
past all advice. . . .
1 Glenarvon — A novel written by Lady Caroline Lamb.
2 The being it is meant for — Lord Byron.
FROM ANTONIO CANOVA. 419
Antonio Canova
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
ROMA, 23 Settembre, 1816.
Excellenza, — Dall Emi. Card. Gonsalvi ho ri-
cevuto la gentilissima Letterina di S. E. per la quale
vengo nuovamente confermato nella speranza, anzi
nella certezza, di ritenere qualche parte nella sua
memoria, cosa che sommamente desidero e che
riconosco quale prezioso ornamento del viver mio.
Ho seguito il di lei aviso di scrivere al Principe
Reggente sul proposito dei Gessi dei marmi Elgini-
ani e ne ho consegnata la lettera alia lodata Eminenza
sua. Spero che avremo il bene di rivederla fra noi
nel prossimo inverno come odo che da molti viene
asseverato. Se altri cio desidera di cuore io sono
uno di questi, e credo che non mi bisognino gran
parole a rendernela persuaso. Ella conosce abba-
stanza la sincerita e il carattere candido di miei senti-
menti onde far justizia alle mie asserzioni, ma non
potrebbe mai formarsi idea adequata del sentimento
di stima e di affezionata considerazione ed ossequio
con cui mi onero essere. — di V. E.,
Antonio Canova.
Translation of the above.
Rome, September 23, 1816.
Your Excellency, — I have received from his
Eminence, Cardinal Gonsalvi, your Excellency's
most esteemed note, which confirms anew the hope,
and indeed the certainty, of my retaining some place
420 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
in your memory, which I greatly desire and prize as
a precious ornament of my existence. I have fol-
lowed your advice by writing to the Prince Regent
on the subject of the plaster casts of the Elgin
marbles, and have consigned my letter to the care
of his Eminence. I hope we shall have the happi-
ness of seeing you again among us next winter, a
wish which I hear uttered by many. If any persons
heartily desire your return I am of the number,
and I think I do not need to use many words to
persuade you of this. You are sufficiently aware
of the sincerity and candid character of my senti-
ments to do justice to my assertions, but you could
never form an adequate idea of the sentiments of
esteem and affectionate consideration with which I
have the honor to be your Excellency's, &c, &c.
Antonio Canova.
Antonio Canova
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Roma, 12 Ottobre, 18 16.
Preclarissima Signora Duchessa, — Le sono infinita-
mento obbligato della graziosa lettera di cui le piacque
onorarmi. L'espressioni di amorevolezza che fa uso
a mio riguardo mi adornano 6 lusingano troppo perche
io non abbia a sentirne tutto il valore e la riconos-
senza che meritano. Duolmi che la sua brama di
far collocare nel Panteon il ritratto del Cavaliere di
Reynolds non possa adempirsi; io pure dentro di
me stesso sentiva il dubbio 6 il peso di quella con-
siderazione ch'ella mi dichiaro. Sono lietissimo della
FROM ANTONIO CANOVA. 42 1
dolce novella da lei datami del suo vicino ritorno a
Roma. Ne aspetto il momento colla piu viva im-
pazienza conforme ed equale al sentimento dell' alta
forma che le professo.
Io non ho mai fatto nulla che abbia rapporto al
poeta Virgilio, ne statua ne ritratto.
Mi conservi la preziosa sua benevolenza e credami
cogli offizii del fratello pieno di venerazione e di
osservanza. — Di Lei aff. Antonio Canova.
Translation of the above.
Rome, October 12, 18 16.
Most Illustrious Lady Duchess, — I am infinitely-
obliged to you for the gracious letter with which you
have been pleased to honor me. The kind expres-
sions which you make use of towards me are too
complimentary and flattering for me not to feel the
full force of the acknowledgment which is their due.
I am sorry that it is not in my power to carry out
your wish that the portrait of the cavaliere Reynolds
should be placed in the collection of the Pantheon.
I had indeed my own doubts on the subject, and felt
the weight of the considerations which you laid
before me.
I am very glad of the good news which you an-
nounce to me of your proposed early return to Rome.
I look forward to that moment with the most lively
impatience proportioned to the high regard which I
entertain for you.
I have never done any thing having any reference
to the poet Virgil — neither statue nor portrait.
422 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Pray continue your precious friendship to me, and
believe my brother and myself to be full of veneration
and respect. — Yours, &c, Antonio Canova.
G. Thorwaldsen
To Frederick Foster.
Copenhagen, October^, 1816.
My dear Sir, — Yesterday at length the proprietor
of the Rosenborgen Pluto appointed the hour to-
morrow 1 afternoon. At the same time I was un-
fortunately decoyed into company of Highnesses,
Excellencies, Ribbands, stars and keys. I thought
myself in holy place; but alas! two villains, infamous
by their very names, Cold and fever — these wretches
seized me and carried me off, though I made strong
protestations. They told me that precedents pub-
lished by one of the greatest nations upon earth
warranted this proceeding. Not entirely free from
violence, yet impelled by knavery, my enemies have
stretched me on my bed, where I am alternately tor-
tured by heat and cold. My state is that of a vol-
cano. However, I hope soon to outwit my enemies,
to throw them out of doors, and banish them for ever.
To-morrow my son Frederick will pay mine and his
owne homage to you, and request the honour to be
in your guide to Pluto's metropolis, one of the great
Inigo Jones' works. Pray give my best respects to
your brother, the ambassador, whom I will ever love
and admire. Conceal my sufferings from the ladies;
their generous feelings can not bear incident mis-
FROM ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 423
fortunes to their fellow creatures. Above all, bid
God to have mercy on me; so doing I shall be
benefited without your loss. I am for ever, my
dear Sir, your faithfull and very humble servant,
G. Thorwaldsen.
Monsieur Frederick de Foster,
Senateur de l'Angleterre.
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Mrs. Foster.
Rome, Nov. 16, 18 16.
. . . Before I forget it, I must tell Augustus
that the Danish sculptor Thorwaldsen is grown
excellent. Some of his works are really admirable,
and he is so modest and so excellent a man that he
is liked and esteemed by all. He hopes to go to
Denmark this next year, and they have good reason
to be proud of him.
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
Rome, Dec. 10, 18 16.
... Mr. Playfair, Mr. Elmsley, Mr. Sotheby
are among the clever men of science and literature
at Rome, and Mr. Brougham1 and Vernon— Lord
Henry, the clever men of the set now here, and all
almost alike flock to the Princess Borghese, and the
grave Lord Lansdowne, the silent Lord Jersey, the
'Ifr. Brougham — Henry B.r afterwards Lord B. (1778-1868).
424 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
politician Mr. Brougham, all go and play aux petits
jeux with Pauline. Forfeits condemned Lord Jersey
to recite; he got off by promising to waltz. Lord
Cowper was to soupirer pour une dame and so on.
She shows her fine plate with the eagle, &c, and gets
dozens of fine dresses from Paris. I admire the
Pope's firmness in letting them all of that family
remain at Rome, but I think that the English should
put a little reason in their eagerness to go to her.
Were it Josephine, who did thousands of benevolent
generous acts; Maria Louisa, who was twice a sacrifice
to politicks; Madame Lucien,1 who is an excellent
mother and wife, I think the attentions would be
natural and commendable, but this person has only
been cited for extreme arrogance in prosperity, ex-
treme gallantry, and a good deal of beauty. Louis
Buonaparte2 inspires great esteem, I think, but he is
sickly and, I believe, scarcely goes to his sisters. . . .
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
Rome, Dec. 16, 1816.
. . . I hear from England that Lord Byron's
third canto of Childe Harold is beautiful, but Lord
^■Madame Lucien — She was widow of Monsieur Jouberthon, a stockbroker, and
was second wife of Lucien Bonaparte, to whom she bore nine children, the eldest
of whom, Letitia, married Thomas Wyse, Esq., an Irish gentleman, one of whose
descendants, Bonaparte Wyse, is a Government Inspector of Irish National Schools.
2 Louis Bonaparte — Third brother of Napoleon, who made him King of Holland.
He married in 1802 Hortense Eugenie Beauharnais, daughter of Viscount B. and
of Josephine, who was daughter of Count Tascher de la Pagerie, and was the first
wife of Napoleon. His son, Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, was elected in
1848 President of the French Republic by 5,562,834 votes out of a total of 7,500,000,
and again by more than 7,000,000 votes in 1851, and in the following year he
assumed the title of Emperor.
FROM ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 425
Cowper don't like it so much, and Lady Bessborough
is sending it to me, and I long for it, as, however
odious his character, he is a great Poet. M. Lewis1
told me that he believed he was gone to Venice in
order to embark for Dalmatia. M. Lewis till last
night has never appeared. Here, as at Florence,
he shuts himself up to hold converse only with the
departed. I have begun a little excavation in the
Foro Romano, and they found a little cup or calice.
In digging close to the single Pillar, they found it
to be a column to Phocas.2 I am having the Cup
cleaned a little and put together. At the great
excavation they found a part of the Plan of Rome,
which joins on to that which is preserved in the
Capitol Museum. Nothing can be greater than the
interest which this excites. I have employed poor
labourers instead of forcats, which is a charity. I
saw it particularly pleased my friend Cardinal Gon-
salvi, and therefore I was doubly pleased to do it. . . .
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
Rome, December 29, 18 16.
. . I have told you, I think, what a pro-
digious improvement Thorwaldsen has made in his
works. He really is excellent, and a very interest-
ing person in himself. He has had a great deal to
do, and Mr. Hope, his great patron, has desired that
1 M. Lewis— M. G. L., novelist, author of The Monk (1775-1818).
5 Phocas — Emperor of Constantinople, d. 610.
426 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
he will finish his Jason for him; but Canova's group
for the Prince, Mars and Venus, is the most beautiful
thing I ever saw, and the best of his works, I do
think. This is done by order, and he is finishing
for the Prince his Nymph and Amorino, which he
means as an offering. He has works ordered that
will take up twelve years. I would give any thing
for a small work of his, but it is hopeless, and a
group or figure I can't afford.
Lord Byron
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Venice, November 3, 1817.
I was yesterday honoured by your Grace's letter
of the 19th ult. The newspapers have, I fear, de-
ceived your Grace, in common with many others, for,
up to my last letters from England, Newstead Abbey
has not been sold, and, should it be so at this
moment, I shall be agreeably surprized.
Amongst the many unpleasant consequences of
my residence in Piccadilly, or rather the cause of that
residence, I can assure your Grace that I by no
means look upon it as the least painful that my
inconvenience should have contributed to yours.
Whatever measures Mr. Denen might find it proper
to take were probably what he deemed his duty, and,
though I regret that they were necessary, ... I
am still more sorry to find that they seem to have
been inefficacious. Indeed, till very lately, I was
not aware that your Grace was so unlucky as to have
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 427
me still among the number of your debtors. I shall
write to the person who has the management of my
affairs in England, and although I have but little
controul over either at present, I will do the best I
can to have the remaining balance liquidated. — I
have the honour to be, with great respect, Your
Grace's most obedient, Very humble servant,
Byron.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Copenhagen, August 25, 1818.
. . I find M. la ferronays a great resource
here. I do not know if you are acquainted with him.
He has been nearly caught and hung by Bonaparte's
creatures; often on the coast of France disguised as
a smuggler, and for six years a common soldier in
the Austrian army, frequently without enough to
eat. His brother was killed as a common soldier at
the battle of Lutzen, being then in the French ser-
vice as a conscript. He was with Korsakow at the
tremendous battle of Zurich, and saw the ditches of
Waterloo strewed with French and English soldiers.
Freddy and Cavendish are nourishing, the latter as
fat as ever.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Copenhagen, Sept. 1, 18 18.
. . . Albinia has something more than a sus-
picion that a third little being is on its way up to the
428 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
regions of light. This, I know, will be looked on as
a misfortune by you, and I think so too, unless it
should be of the female sex this time, which would
be some consolation. We shall not know this, how-
ever, till about April, so there may be time to make
an Italian of the little creature. . . .
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Copenhagen, Jan. 9, 18 19.
. . . Cavendish is all fat as yet, but speaks at
an earlier age than his brother did.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Copenhagen, April 27, 1819.
I am happy to tell you that Albinia has at last
been safely delivered, but it is of a son instead of the
wished for daughter; however, as I assisted this time
and witnessed her sufferings, the little delivered was
made welcome. The event happened yesterday,
early in the morning. . . . You never mentioned
the affair of poor Mr. Colycar: he was a descendant
of the Dukes of Ancaster, and, as such, one out of
the way of Freddy's succession to the situation of
Great Chamberlain (?) of England, formerly belonging
to the Veres. As younger sons should have good
names, we mean to give the newcomer that of Vere
to shew that he is a link in that chain of descent.
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 429
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess oj Devonshire.
Krokkedahl, June 7, 1819.
. . . What you say of A' Court I think very just.
Why, with a good estate and right if necessary to
a pension, dawdle out his days in foreign missions.
It is well enough for us younger brothers who have
nor house nor home, but the Lords of the Soil might
stay in their castles, particularly when, like him,
they have boroughs at their disposition. Peel1 has
certainly now come very forward on the Bullion
question, and will no doubt soon verify his father's
prediction of him. It is really interesting to see the
success that has attended old Sir Robert Peel's plan
of education. He was himself a common mill boy,
made a fortune by some invention in the manufactory,
I believe, of cotton, and determined to bring up his
son to the imitation of Pitt, and behold that very
son now at 3 or 4 and 20, putting his foot into the
stirrup, and this in his father's lifetime, and in spite
of his father's opposition on the Bullion question.
Methinks I see Freddy at a distance on the selfsame
road, and Cavendish, and Vere Henry Louis follow-
ing at full gallop: what a prospective for John Bull.
. Matters go on better at Paris, thanks to De
Serre. It was necessary to stop somewhere, and
shew that Louis 18 was not as weak as poor Louis
16, and the Ministers may now have a little more
confidence since they have learned that Benjamin
1 Peel— Sir Robert Peel, second baronet (1788-1850). The statement that the
first baronet was once " a common mill boy" is not quite correct.
430 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Constant, Lafayette,1 & Co., are really only Jaseurs,
and that their friends the Regicides are not popular.
I like your saying that the difficulties were not so
great at Naples when poor Lady Shaftesbury, with
all her money, could not get lodged there, but was
obliged to invade the Duke's apartments. . . . Lady
Liverpool seems better; she has consented to be
Godmother to the child, so, besides the names of
Vere Henry, we have called him, from her, Louis.
The Hon. Mrs. Lamb
To Augustus Foster.
Tunbridge Wells, July 31, 1819.
. . . I like this place very much. The walks
and drives are beautiful, and I drive in the little gigs
of the place with quiet, steady ponies who know
every turn. The Noels2 and Lady Byron are my
only acquaintances here, but as I am very fond of
the latter, it satisfies me. She has been very much
abused in Lord Byron's new poem of Don Juan
under the name of Donna Inez. It is very bad in
him, and the whole poem is in a very bad style,
improper, and flippant, and very odious, but it is
reckoned clever.
. . . I never saw so clever and entertaining a
child as little Ada,3 Lord Byron's child. She is full
of fun, but very good-tempered and good, and I
1 Lafayette — Marquis de la Fayette (1757-1834).
2 The Noels — The Milbankes had assumed the surname of Noel.
3 Little Ada — Only child of Lord Byron, afterwards married to the Earl of Love-
lace (1816-1852).
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 43 1
hope she will inherit none of his faults. Poor little
thing! she is early celebrated in verse, and I have
no doubt he will be always trying to work on her
mind by his writings. . . .
Augustus Foster
To Elisabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Copenhagen, August 14, 18 19.
. . . Vere is like Freddy, and is a very fine
child. Cavy shews much character, but is too fat
still.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Copenhagen, October 12, 18 19.
Thorwaldsen at last arrived here ten days ago, but
only called here yesterday. He has been so dis-
coursed to and drank to, praised and panegyrized,
that the poor man seems quite bothered; but he was
at Albinia's conversazione last night and appeared
delighted to find an old Roman acquaintance to talk
to in Italian. . . . Thorwaldsen says he must
have occupation and means to model through the
winter; he left them a model in Alto Rilievo for the
public walk at Lucerne to be cut out of the rock. I
dare say it will be very fine, but he leaves it to the
Swiss to execute his design; so the Mercury which
you admire so much is not yet in marble. He
talks of the work in marble as mere mechanical. It
432 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
certainly is the chief thing, however, else we might
be satisfied with what the ancients have left us.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Copenhagen, Nov. 6, 1819.
Lord Strangford1 was necessarily em-
ployed to treat with Sweden because it was only at
Stockholm that the Convention could be negotiated.
To answer your question as to what share I had in
it, I have only to send you the extract from Lord
Castlereagh's Despatch, which follows: — "There
remains for me only the gratifying task of signifying
to you His Royal Highness' full approbation of your
conduct in the share which you have taken in the
discussions which have produced the settlement".
This I look upon as a proof of bienveillance in Lord
Castlereagh, for the business was, of course, mainly
carried on at Stockholm. Let me add from Planta's
private letter of October 7, in stating that Lord
Castlereagh acquiesced in my request to remain
here, he says, " and that he is very well pleased that
you should, for the present, remain where you have
done so very well and are so deservedly esteemed.
In conveying to you this intelligence I use Lord
Castlereagh's own words." . . . Freddy is much
admired here, Cavy less so, though he improves.
Vere is like Freddy, but has not cut teeth yet.
1 Lord Strangford— A distinguished diplomatist (1780-1855).
FROM BARON D'ENGESTRbM. 433
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Copenhagen, January 29, 1820.
Cavendish is very well on his legs, fat and stout,
but no beauty — he has, however, got a dimple or
two and a pleasing smile. The little Vere is a
beautiful child.
Baron d 'Engestrbm
To Augustus Foster.
le %juin, 1820.
Monsieur, — Vous savds Monsieur que le refus
constant de Sa Majeste" Britannique de reconnaitre
le Roi Charles XIII a depuis longtems fait prevoir
la necessity de faire cesser les relations Diplomatiques
entre les deux Monarques, sans faire naltre un etat
de guerre entre les deux Nations.
Le Roi a par consequent, sans manquer au Roi
d'Angleterre, pu promettre a la France, la cessation
de relations qui deja touchaient a leur fin.
Le Traite" de paix conclu a Paris le 6 Janvier
dernier, a etd dans le terns communique" au Ministere
de Sa Majestd, et la Mission de Suede a quittd
Londres.
Votre presence quelqu' agr^able quelle nous soit,
pourrait donner lieu a des doutes sur l'intention du
Roi, de remplir ses engagemens. Vous sav^s com-
bien II y est fidele, et vous ne serds pas ^tonnd que
le ze"le dont Je suis animd pour Son auguste personne,
m'impose le devoir de vous prier de ne pas accrediter
2E
434 THE TW0 DUCHESSES.
en restant plus longtems ici, des souptjons que le
caractere loyal de Sa Majeste- ne merite nullement.
Je crois etre ass^s connu de Vous Monsieur, pour
que Vous soyez persuade^ de la parfaite consideration
et de l'attachement sincere avec lesquels j'ai l'honneur
d'etre, Monsieur, Votre tres humble et tres obeissant
Serviteur, Le Baron d'Engestrom.
The Hon. Mrs. Lamb
To Augustus Foster.
Whitehall, November 16, 1820.
. . . Isn't it extraordinary that the Queen has
suddenly dismissed Bergamo and all the family upon
finding, she says, in the Evidence that they had
cheated her in some old money matters. Now that
the trial is over, people are wondering what is to be
done with her next. I suppose there will be some
battling about it in the House of Commons now it is
over. It would be handsomer to treat her at once as
Queen, and the moment she is no longer persecuted
her popularity will cease. Every body here seems
to rejoice that the business is at an end without
coming to the other house, as it would have been a
horrid scene. She burst into tears, I hear, when the
news was brought her. It is true that in signing her
last protest she said, " Regina still in spite of them".
Many of her bon mots are told. I suppose you have
heard of her saying she never committed adultery
but once, and that was with Mrs. Fitzherbert's hus-
band, and she has repented of it ever since.
FROM AUGUSTUS FOSTER. 435
Angus his Foster
To Elisabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Copenhagen, Nov. 25, 1820.
. . . We are in the greatest anxiety about poor
little Vere, whose teething has, I fear, brought on
water on the brain. The little fellow is very strong,
and struggles hard with his malady, or rather maladies,
for he has several on him, which come on in suc-
cession. His nurse has now been up with him for
six successive nights. Last night I watched till 7
this morning, and could with difficulty force his
Mamma away to take an hour's rest. . . .
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Copenhagen, Nov. 28, 1820.
I must write a line to say that your little grandson
Vere has overcome his malady. When we had
given him over, I warmed his feet with my hands
until the perspiration came, and his nurse put him in
a hot bath, which slowly brought back the life into
his body. Albinia has had nothing but fatigue and
watching, and yet bore it with more strength than I
thought she possessed. I believe I wrote by last
mail to say the child could not recover, as all the
doctors thought. . .
436 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Lord Byron
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Ravenna, July 15, 1821.
Madame, — I am about to request a favor of Your
Grace without the smallest personal pretensions to
obtain it. It is not, however, for myself, and yet I
err, for surely what we solicit for our friends is, or
ought to be, nearest to ourselves. If I fail in this
application, my intrusion will be its own reward — if
I succeed, Your Grace's reward will consist in having
done a good action, and mine in your pardon for my
presumption. My reason for applying to you is this:
Your Grace has been long at Rome, and could not
be long any where without the influence and the
inclination to do good.
Amongst the list of exiles on account of the late
suspicions, and the intrigues of the Austrian Govern-
ment (the most infamous in history), there are many
of my acquaintances in Romagna, and some of my
friends : of these more particularly are the two Counts
Gamba,1 of a noble and respected family in this city.
In common with thirty or more of all ranks they have
been hurried from their home without process, without
hearing, without accusation: the father is universally
respected and liked; his family is numerous and
mostly young, and these are now left without pro-
tection; the son is a very fine young man, with very
little of the vices of his age or climate; he has, I
believe, the honor of an acquaintance with Your
1 Counts Gamba — Father and brother of the Countess Guiccioli, whose connection
with Byron is sufficiently well known.
FROM LORD BYRON. 437
Grace, having been presented by Madame Martinetti.
He is but one and twenty, and lately returned from
his studies at Rome. Could Your Grace, or would
you, ask the repeal of both, or at least of one of these
from those in power in the holy city. They are not
aware of my solicitation in their behalfs, but I will
take it upon me to say that they shall neither dis-
honour your goodness nor my request. If only one
can be obtained, let it be the father, on account of
his family. I can assure Your Grace and the very
pious Government in question that there can be no
danger in this act of — clemency, shall I call it? It
would be but justice with us — but here\ Let them
call it what they will. ... I cannot express the
obligation which I should/^/. I say feel only because
I do not see how I could repay it to Your Grace. I
have not the slightest claim upon you, unless, perhaps,
through the memory of our late friend, Lady Mel-
bourne.1 I say friend only, for my relationship with
her family has not been fortunate for them, nor for
me. If, therefore, you should be disposed to grant
my request, I shall set it down to your tenderness
for her who is gone, and who was to me the best and
kindest of friends. The persons for whom I solicit
will (in case of success) neither be in ignorance of
their protectress nor indisposed to acknowledge their
sense of her kindness by a strict observance of such
conduct as may justify her interference. If my ac-
quaintance with Your Grace's character was even
slighter than it is through the medium of some of our
1 Lady Melbourne — Sister of Sir Ralph Milbanke, and aunt of Lady Byron
(1785-1828).
438 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
English friends, I had only to turn to the letters of
Gibbon (now on my table) for a full testimony to its
high and amiable qualities. I have the honor to be,
with great respect, Your Grace's most obedient, very
humble servant, Byron.
P.S. — Pray excuse my scrawl, which perhaps you
may be enabled to decypher from a long acquaintance
with the handwriting of Lady Bessborough. I
omitted to mention that the measures taken here
have been as blind as impolitic — this I happen to
know. Out of the list in Ravenna there are at least
ten not only innocent but even opposite in principle
to the liberals. It has been the work of some
blundering Austrian spy, or angry priest, to gratify
his private hatred. Once more your pardon.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Copenhagen, July 20, 1821.
I hear Lord Byron is at Ravenna, deeply in love
with the fairest and wealthiest sposa1 in the place.
Is it so? An Italian here tells me he was making
love to a Venetian lady when the other came into
the room, and instantly he asked to be introduced,
followed her to Ravenna, and there fixed himself.
Of all the cities in Romanian lands,
The chief and most renowned Ravenna stands
may therefore again be trumpeted forth by another
Dryden.
1 Sposa — The Countess Guiccioli.
FROM ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 439
Lord Byron
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Ravenna, July 30, 1821.
Madam, — The inclosed letter, which I had the
honor of addressing to Your Grace, unfortunately for
the subject of it, and for the writer, arrived after
Your Grace's departure. I venture to forward it to
Spa, in the hope that you may be perhaps tempted
to interest yourself in favour of the persons to whom
it refers, by writing a few lines to any of your Roman
acquaintances in power. Two words from Your
Grace, I cannot help thinking, would be sufficient,
even if the request were still more presumptuous.
I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect,
your most obedient very humble servant, Byron.
To Her Grace The Duchess of Devonshire, &c. &c. &c.
Spa. In Allemagne presso Liege, Ibi vel ubi.
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Lord Byron.
Spa, August 17, 1821.
I regret very much that the letter which your
Lordship directed to Rome did not arrive before I
left, for it is always easier to explain the subject
which one is anxious about in conversation than by
writing, unless indeed the pen is held by the author
of Childe Harold. I will, however, certainly write
to Rome about the persons who interest you so
much, and shall be happy if I can be of any use to
440 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
them. I recollect Madame Martinetti's introducing
to me a gentleman of the name of Gamba, but it is
the warm interest which you express, my Lord, that
will make me particularly anxious to succeed for
them. Lady Melbourne had, I know, the greatest
regard and friendship for you, and I had ever the
sincerest affection for her. Whatever regrets subse-
quent occurrences might have occasioned her, I
believe her friendship for you was unvaried. I have
found no difficulty in decyphering your letter without
ever being indebted to Lady Bessborough for that
advantage, and I have only to wish that I may be
successful in my application, and may be able to
realize the hopes you have formed from any influence
I may possess at Rome. I always wish to do any
good I can, and in that poor Gibbon and my other
friends have but done me justice, but believe me
also that there is a character of justice, goodness, and
benevolence in the present Government of Rome
which, if they are convinced of the just claim of the
Comtes de Gamba, will make them grant their
request. Of Cardinal Gonsalvi it is truly said, " II
a etabli une nouvelle politique formee sur la verite
et la franchise. L'estime de toute 1' Europe le paye
de ses fatigues." Pray do not judge of the holy City
from the reports of others, and, as no one has ever
described its monuments with such beauty of poetry
as yourself, so no one, I am sure, would do more
justice to the merits of its inhabitants if you staid
long enough to know them. I beg of you, my Lord,
once more to be assured of the pleasure with which
I shall undertake, and the satisfaction which I shall
FROM ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE. 44I
feel, if I obtain the recall of your friends to their
mother country. E. Devonshire.
I give up the Austrian Government to all you
choose to say of them.
The Duke of Wellington
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
London, Nov. 25, 1821.
My dear Duchess, — I received your note in
Staffordshire, and on my arrival in London your
beautiful present. Be assured that I prize the latter
much, and that I will have the addition made to it
of your own Picture, and keep it in my own Library
as a memorial of your kindness to me. I hear that
you go on Tuesday, and I call with this note in
hopes of seeing you once more before you go, as I
am going out of town to stay this evening. Ever
yours most sincerely, Wellington.
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
Paris, December*), 1821.
. . . Our affairs seem settled at home, except
as to Canning. Never surely did so clever a man
so mar his own fortunes; he now declines India. It
is only strange that they should ever think of send-
ing him. It is his eloquence which they want and
not his government of India. . .
442 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Augustus Foster
To Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.
Richmond, December 16, 1821.
. . . I am sorry for Canning, but I certainly
think he was right to refuse India; had he accepted
it would have been put to the score of necessity.
As it is, I think even the Mogul himself must think
better of him, and things may turn up better for him
hereafter; besides, what would have become of his
daughter and other children. . . .
Elisabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
To Augustus Foster.
Mav 27, 1823.
There is illness and influenza1 all over London.
August 20, 1823.
Lord Byron has put into Naples; he is carrying
out arms, provisions, and medicines.
February 24, 1824.
. . . . Grecian affairs also promise well, and
Byron has given them ;£ 10,000, besides arms, medi-
cine, and surgeons.
The Earl of Aberdeen
To Augustus Foster.
Nice, January 19, 1826.
It is a great disappointment to me to be so near
without being able to see you. This indeed at
1 Influema — This remark shows that the term influenza is not of recent origin.
FROM THE EARL OF ABERDEEN. 443
present would not be easy from the state of the
roads and the quantity of snow, but I fear I shall be
obliged to leave Nice in a short time, and before the
communication is opened for carriages with Turin.
Lady Aberdeen was unwell when I left England,
and has been worse since, so that the physicians
have forbidden her to think of coming to join me
here, and although she is now rather better, she is
impatient for my return. I have not quite deter-
mined whether to leave my daughter here or take
her back with me to England. For myself, I like
this place extremely, the climate delightful, and the
country very beautiful. I could pass three or four
months here every winter with great pleasure. I
am very glad that you like your residence; indeed
you must be difficult, with two such towns as Turin
and Genoa, not to be well pleased. I had never
seen Turin until last year, and was quite surprised
to find so beautiful a town. It has the reputation of
being rather dull, but, compared with this place it
must be all liveliness and gaiety, for, notwithstand-
ing the natural charms of Nice, I never knew a
place with fewer intellectual resources. It is very
full at present; many English, but not such as I know.
There are some very good French families and other
foreigners. Madame Narischkin arrived here on
the very day on which we received the news of the
death of the Emperor Alexander. This death has
thrown his country into great confusion, for, although
matters may be settled for the present, it is to be
presumed that at some future period a catastrophe
is by no means improbable. Whatever happens, I
444 THE TW0 DUCHESSES.
have only one wish, which is that we may preserve
peace; if we succeed in this, it ought to be a matter
of indifference to us who is Emperor. . . .
Miss Vere Hobart1
To Mrs Foster.
Whitehall, April 27, 1827.
Since I wrote to you last Tuesday, I believe what
I then told you as positive news has been undone,
and (?) twenty times. Lord James Stuart has
just been here in great joy saying that Lord Lans-
down has agreed with Mr. Canning, but what his
place will be is not yet declared. It is a grand
jumble altogether. We were last night at the
Robinsons. After Sarah2 desiring to see us she was
too unwell to do so when we arrived; she is to be kept
so exceedingly quiet, but I believe her matters are
going on perfectly well. Mr. R.s gave us all the
history of his Peerage and his Majesty's gracious-
ness, and shewed us the arms and supporters of his
new dignity. He is to be gazetted to-night, conse-
quently from this day we must call him Viscount
Goderich. Lady de Grey4 declared she will spell
him Goodrich, because elle s'est mise en tete that it
should be so, but he says not. . . .
1 Miss Vere Hobart — Half-sister of Mrs. Foster, and afterwards married to
Donald Cameron of LochieL 2 Sarah — Lady Sarah Robinson.
8 Mr. R. — Frederick Robinson, created in 1827 Viscount Goderich. He was
Prime Minister for a few months in 1827-8 in succession to Canning, and was
created Earl of Ripon in 1833(1782-1859).
4 Lady De Grey— Countess De Grey, sister-in-law of Lord Goderich (1782-1859).
COUNT JOHN ANTHONY CAPO D'lSTRIAS. 445
Count John Anthony Capo d'fstrias,1 President of the Greek
Republic, on his embarkation for Greece, to Augustus
Foster.
ANCONA,20^^, 1827.
3 December
Je ne saurais assez exprimer a Votre- Excellence
combien je suis toucb.6 de l'interet quelle se plait de
me temoigner, et dont sa lettre du 26 Novembre
m'apporte une nouvelle preuve.
Monsieur le Vice-Consul d'Angleterre, en se con-
formant a ses ordres, me fit trouver a Bologne une
lettre de sa part dans laquelle il me donnait tous les
renseignments qui etoit a sa connaissance. La saison
orageuse dans ces mers cette annde plus que de
coutume ne laisse cependant aborder dans le port
d'Ancona depuis le 20 novembre aucun batiment
ni grand ni petit, et ce fait explique assez le retard
qu'eprouve celui que j'attends. Je prends patience,
et je tache de me consoler en m'occupant d'avance
des affaires tres difficiles, et assur&nent peu agreables,
qui me sont reserves; celle de la piraterie, dont
Votre Excellence me parle, en^st une, et elle reclame
sans doute de promptes et fortes mesures ; — mais
comment s'y atteindre tant que la misere la plus
effrayante maitrisera absolument en Grece tous les
hommes et toutes leurs situations. Lorsqu'il en sera
autrement, et je l'espere de la justice et de la
munificence des cinq cours alliees, je vais repondre
qu'une simple proclamation donnee avec pleine con-
naissance de cause, et soutenue par des forces mari-
times soldts fera disparaitre le desordre et devoilera
1 Count Capo dlstrias— See Appendix.
446 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
a l'Europe les veritable pirates. Jusque la je ne puis
que faire des veux, et V.E. ne doute pas de ceux que
je forme pour etre une heure plutot sur les lieux.
Quelle veuille me continuer son amitie\ et croire
aux sentimens avec les quelles j'ai l'honneur d'etre
de Votre Excellence le tres humble et tres obeissant
serviteur. J. Capo d'Istrias.
A Son Excellence, Mons. de Foster, a Turin.
Translation.
Copy of a letter from Count John Anthony Capo d'Istrias,
President of the Greek Republic, to Augustus Foster on
his embarkation for Greece.
. 20 November a
Ancona, ' — ^-, 1827.
3 December
I know not how sufficiently to express to your
Excellency how much I am affected by the interest
which you are pleased to testify towards me, and of
which your letter of November 26 brings me fresh
proof.
The English Vice-Consul, in accordance with the
instructions received from your Excellency, addressed
to me at Bologna a letter, in which he gave me all
the information in his possession. The more than
usually stormy season, however, of this year in these
seas has, ever since November 20, rendered it im-
possible for any vessel whatever, large or small, to
enter the port of Ancona, and this fact sufficiently
explains the delay in arrival of the one which I am
expecting. I try to be as patient as possible, and
endeavour to console myself by occupation in ad-
vance with the many difficult and by no means
FROM CHRISTIAN VIII., KING OF DENMARK. 447
agreeable affairs which await my attention. One of
these is the question of piracy, which is referred to
in your Excellency's letter, and it no doubt requires
prompt and strong measures. But how deal with it
so long as the most frightful misery shall continue to
dominate absolutely in Greece all the people and all
their belongings. Whenever different circumstances
shall arise, as I hope will be the case through the
justice and munificence of the five allied Courts, I
will reply that a simple proclamation, couched in
plain language, and backed by a display of armed
maritime forces, will cause the disappearance of dis-
order, and will unveil to Europe the real pirates.
Until then I can only form resolutions, and your
Excellency cannot doubt my desire to be as early as
possible on the ground.
I beg you will continue your friendship and rest
assured of the sentiments with which I have the
honor to be your Excellency's very humble and very
obedient servant, J. Capo d'Istrias.
To His Excellency, Mr. de Foster, &c, Turin.
Christian 8, King of Denmark,
To Augustus Foster.
Copenhagen, le 10 Avril, 1840.
Monsieur, vous m'avez sensiblement rejoui en
m'adressant vos vceux a l'occasion de mon avene-
ment au trone de mes ancetres.
Des antdcedants qui sont graves dans ma memoire
448 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
et qui vous reservent une place bien honorable dans
mon souvenir ne me laissaient aucune doute sur la
part sincere que vous voudriez bien prendre a un
evenement aussi important pour moi et pour le
Dannemarc, que vous avez appris a cherir durant un
long sejour pres de nous. Mais il ne m'a pas ete
moins agrdable d'en recevoir l'assurance par la lettre
que vous m'avez adressee.
J'aurai d'abord voulu vous repondre, arm de vous
porter mes sinceres remercimens, mais des occupa-
tions assidues m'ont empeche de m'acquitter d'un
devoir cher a mon cceur, aussi savais-je que vous
etiez occupe a quitter Turin a cet epoque.
Je saisis avec empressement la perspective que
vous me donnez d'une visite en Dannemarc; je n'ai
pas besoin de vous assurer que vous serez toujours
le bienvenu pres de moi et que nommement durant
cet ete la fete du sacre (?) au Chateaux de Frederiks-
borg, fixe au 28 Juin, presenterait peutetre un double
inter£t pour vous. Celui que vous voudrez bien me
porter en qualite d'ancien ami, me sera toujours le
plus cher, et c'est en vous assurant de l'inviolabilite
de mes sentimens pour vous que j'ai le plaisir de
[A line torn out].
— Votre, tout affectionne, Christian R.
Madame Foster trouve ici mes complimens et
ceux de la Reine, mon epouse.
FROM THE HON. MRS. LAMB. 449
The Hon. Mrs. Lamb
To Augustus Foster.
D. House, Wednesday, 1845.
You will have heard of poor Lady Holland's1
death. She will be a great loss to society, and one
thinks now only of her kind feelings and steady
friendship, and forgets her little whims and failings,
and all one disliked before. Her will is much talked
of; it is said she has left Lord John Russell ^1500
a year, the Kensington estate for his life, and to
go at his death to Lady Lilford; to Charles Fox
^2000. He was provided for before when Ampt-
hill was sold, and is well off; innumerable little
legacies to friends; to Lady Palmerston ^300, a
picture of Lord Melbourne by Landseer, and all her
fans; to Charles Howard her dictionaries and ^200;
to her doctor ^1500 and ^50 a year; to Harold,
her page, ^150 a year; to all her servants some-
thing; a picture to the Queen if she would con-
descend to accept it; her Napoleon box to the
National Museum; ^300 for a neat monument of
herself. How much she seems to have thought of
what every body supposed she dreaded the idea, but
she met death calmly and with fortitude. Lady
Lilford and her younger sons were with her.
1 Lady Holland — See Appendix.
450 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
The Hon. Mrs. Lamb
To Augustus Foster.
Devonshire House, Monday, July 20, 1846.
My dear Augustus, — Here I am indeed in the
tourbillon, such as I never thought to have mixed
in again; a great ball to-night — a dinner first to
Royalties — this, however, I am not to be at, the
tables were full. I don't go to any parties out of
the house, and the heat is so overcoming that I shall
be happy to find myself at Melbourne again, where
I return with Lord Melbourne : he is, of course, not
able to come to these parties, though pretty well.
Lord Beauvale has suffered much from gout, and
wants to go to Buxton. Lady Carlisle goes back
Tuesday, and all the world seems on the wing. I
am very glad Frederick enjoys himself, and can be
driven about. Lady Palmerston says they have
nothing to give, and are tormented with applications.
It is reported Lord Minto is to go to Vienna; he
did not wish it originally.
Tuesday.
I hear things are not quite settled. Ministers
were beat on the question of the Bishopricks of
Bangor and St. Asaph in the Lords, and will be,
very likely, on the sugar duties in the Commons; if
so, they mean to dissolve, so, what will come of it
all? Nothing, it seems, is ever to be fixed again.
The fete last night was most brilliant. The new
fashion of dinners is to have several little round
tables instead of one large one, and it seems to
answer and to be thought pleasant. Every body's
FROM LADY BYRON. 45 I
place was settled beforehand, and the lady's name on
her plate. Lady Pollington rebelled and tried not
to sit in her allotted place; she ran away, but was
brought back. Lord Salisbury1 has been a second
time refused by Lady Mary West; there are many
jokes about it; he was overheard telling her he
should not live above five years, and then she would
be a rich widow; she asked him for 24 hours to
consider, and was heard to say, "I'll tell you at
Lady Shelley's ", but, however, it ended in a refusal,
and he looks very sheepish. She said there were
some things she liked in him, his caring for the
poor, and living in the country, and that she could
like him better than the idle dandies about town.
Lady Byron
To Vere Foster.
Brighton, February 14, 1854.
Wishing to contribute anonymously I will trouble
you with the inclosed 480 quarts of soup and the
use of the tickets. The entrance of a third person
prevented me from expressing all the sympathy I
felt in your earnest desire for Truth, and my wish
that your Life may be the means of promoting it —
for " the Life is the Light " in no mystical sense, but
as matter of fact open to the observation of every
one, — Believe me, with sincere esteem, yours,
A. J. Noel Byron.
1 Lord Salislury — James B. W. G. Cecil, eighth Earl and second Marquis of S.
(1791-1868), father of the present Prime Minister. He married first in 1821 Frances
Gascoyne, by whom he had seven children, including the present Marquis, and
secondly, in 1847 Lady Mary West (whose second refusal was not final), daughter
of the Earl of Delawarr, by whom he had five children.
452 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Lady Byron
To Vere Foster.
October 6, 1855.
I have not as much time to write to you by this
post as I could wish. But as your stay at Kirkby,1
for which I heartily thank you, will be drawing to
a close, I will touch on one or two points. Your
observations are all of a very useful character.
As to the difference, I believe that which is gener-
ally recognized as to man and wife is true of most
intimate associations — that if the parties cannot
settle their own quarrel, nobody can do it for them.
Regulations made by authority, even if it were
possible to secure their justice, are likely to irritate
one side at least. However, I will consider the
matter. Congeniality seems to me essential between
the two heads of the school. Have you heard Miss
F.? I quite agree about the Crochet, and have
more than once urged the bread-making occupations
in preference to the Lady-like. Brick floor shall be
attended to. . . .
Lady Byron
To Vere Foster.
Brighton, October 7, 1855.
On reading your letter again I saw that you had
heard both plaintiffs. If the wife of the future In-
cumbent should prove, as I hope, a kind and sensible
1 Kirkiy — Kirkby-Mallory in Leicestershire, where Lady Byron owned an estate.
FROM LADY BYRON. 453
person, she may have a good influence on such
matters, and present legislation is so much better
than absent — or Colonial — that I should willingly
waive my rights.
Mr. Noel does much more than could be expected
from any regular Land Agent with respect to Schools
and plans for the Poor, but it is not the province in
which he is specially qualified to judge, and his
opinions are not always coincident with my own,
though his aims are. The Pastoral Institution, were
it properly carried out, would complete the economy
of a rural district better than any other means.
What is your opinion of the course which might
be most effectual in lessening the temptation to
drunkenness in such a Village? Games? Good
Readers reading amusing stories to small groups?
Little Exhibitions? I dare not propose what I should
think best — Dramatic Representations. . . .
Lady Byron
To Vere Foster.
February 5, 1856.
Much might be said in answer to Mr. Barnard's1
enquiry about Preventive Institutions. I wish I
know who could say it. Ill as I have been and still
am, I can neither attempt to give detailed accounts
nor to methodize facts. I will merely express such
views as arise without effort in my mind, and you or
Mr. Barnard may pick out something from them.
1 Mr. Barnard— The Hon. Henry Barnard, a. distinguished American educa-
tionist.
454 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Thirty years ago all the Educational Institutions in
England might be called " Preventive " in the sense
of obstructing Nature.
i stly. The physical demands in the first instance —
Fresh Air, Exercise, Relief of Muscles, &c.
2ly. The mental demands — Instruction appro-
priate to the age, to the powers and aptitude of the
Subject.
3ly. The moral demands — Means of exercising
the best dispositions and acquiring the best habits, and
of putting precepts into practice in mutual relations.
Education was then really, as it is in a great
measure still, a plan for preventing health of body
and mind. Good Education might perhaps be more
justly called Promotive than Preventive according to
these views.
But, accepting the word " Preventive" in its now
popular signification as opposed to the development
of Evil, I will put down what I have had reason
from an experience with several hundreds of boys
since 1834 to believe the great, and if administered
before bad habits have become inveterate, the un-
failing Prevention of Moral Evil and of Intellectual
Perversion.
1 st. At least as many hours of the day spent in
the open air and in active pursuits as indoors and in
sedentary tasks.
2ly. A practical object intelligible and attractive
to the young mind connected with the active em-
ployment. (This is especially the case when Garden
Allotments are rented by boys, and more or less in
trade work.)
FROM LADY BYRON. 45 S
3ly. Order, for the exercise of Obedience and Self
Controul, never passing into severe discipline — viola-
tion of Order being a cause of the loss of social or
other privilege of the Offender.
4ly. Liberty. Herein De Fellenberg1 said that the
Schoolmaster should imitate Providence, not with-
drawing Temptations entirely (were it possible), but
ever watching over those exposed to them, often
unconsciously to the objects of his care. They will
thus learn to know themselves, and be stronger for
having failed. The man who acts this Guardian part
in the spirit of cheerfulness and hope always attaches
boys.
5ly. Variety of Stimuli applied occasionally to
discover and test various kinds of ability latent in
different Individuals — for Music, Drawing, Building,
Moulding, &c, with promise of cultivation to this
special talent, directly or indirectly. Every faculty
rightly trained is preventive of its misuse, and I
might have added under each of the former heads
how they prevented some form of practical or ima-
ginative error.
6ly. Affectionate reference to Parents (where of a
character to meet it) by little acts of kindness. Family
feelings in some way to be brought out. Their pre-
ventive power was well known to Shakespeare when
he made Lady Macbeth say, "Had he not resembled
my Father as he slept / had done it ". Among the
lower humanizing influences Kindness to Animals is
to be made part of the Education. The care of them
contributes to this.
1 De Fellenberg— -See Appendix.
456 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
7. As Nature is presented to the young Gardener,
who has to make a profit of his little Allotment
(generally one sixteenth of an Acre) in the Utilitarian
point of view only, it should be an object to awaken
his sense of Natural Beauty by Holiday excursions
to scenes which are likely to make such impressions
through contrast with the monotony of his common
Locale. Coleridge speaks of the ministering influ-
ence of Nature even on hardened Criminals, and
their Preventive influences on the unhardened are
too little appreciated. Ruskin says, " The whole
force of Education until very lately has been directed
in every possible way to the destruction of the love
of Nature ", and afterwards, " The next character we
have to note in the Landscape Instinct (and on this
much stress is to be laid) is its total inconsistency
with evil passion; its absolute contrariety — whether
in the contest it were crushed or not — to all care,
hatred, envy, anxiety, and moroseness". He does
not say that in certain characters the love of Nature
may not alternate with evil passion, but they cannot
co-exist. To refer, however, from theory to fact,
De Fellenberg told me that the Mountain excursions
of his boys in Switzerland were as conducive to their
moral as to their physical improvement. To some
of those English boys, now men engaged in active
life, the remembrance of those rambles always brings
back a purifying and elevating influence. In my
own village schools I have traced similar effects,
though my means of affording such enjoyments were
comparatively very limited. Ought not the Sabbath
to be devoted at least occasionally to the opening of
FROM LADY BYRON. 457
the blind eye to "all the glories of the Light". How-
many of those who sing the Evening Hymn have
ever raised their eyes to a Sunset with grateful ad-
miration? Might not such associations be formed
with the silvery moon and countless stars as could
not " co-exist " with the purposes of the nocturnal
plunderer?
If I have dwelt long on this Preventive Culture it
is because it is usually thought one of the weakest,
and is in my opinion one of the most effectual means.
But there must be an ^Esthetic touch in the School-
master to elicit any thing beyond Self-interest in
connexion with "this goodly Universe" from the
minds of his pupils.
81y. As preventive of extravagance Savings Banks
for the boys' pence — -habits of care and forethought
also called forth with respect to the Garden Produce,
either for its preservation from weather and other
injury or from decay after being gathered in.
I have said enough to show my principle, which
has been most successfully tested in practice, of
leaving no neglected soil for weeds to occupy. There
is a fault which may be called an exaggeration of
this principle — the over cultivation of the human
mind, and of which there have been sad examples
both in private and public Education. But then
Nature was utterly disregarded in the kind of culture,
and in nothing more palpably and mischievously, as
is now recognized, than in the substitution of words
for things.
You will learn something of what has been the
result of my, or rather De Fellenberg's principles
458 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
during an eighteen years' trial, if you will make
searching inquiries of Mr. Atlee, to whom the in-
closed is addressed. If there had ever been a'
"Village Historian" the plan would doubtless have
been more generally tried. I was obliged to be
content with doing, in trust that all is not lost which
is not published. — Yours very truly,
A. J. Noel Byron.
Lady Byron
To Vere Foster.
Brighton, February 18, 1856.
Dear Mr. Foster, — I expressed in my letter on
education the use which I wished to have made of
it, merely to afford suggestions or fragments from
which a more complete system might be formed. I
did not revise it with a view to its publication in any
other way. Never having aimed at Authorship, I
got out my ideas just sufficiently for them to be
taken up if worth any thing by those better able to
give them a popular form. . . . You will be
glad to hear that I am promoted to the Drawing
room for a few hours daily. On Sunday last — I
don't know whether it was so throughout England —
all the preachers in Brighton took the Sabbath for
their subject, and abridgments of their discourses are
in the Brighton Examiner. Such a heap of Rubbish;
but it is, I hope, in the act of being " shot " to form
a foundation for something better — not that I am
for obliterating Sunday, but I would no longer have
FROM LADY BYRON. 459
it, as Ross called it, the " vicarioits day", atoning for
all the sins of the Week! Griffiths, though very-
liberal in most things, could not assent to the Re-
creative or renewing principle of a seventh day,
both to health of mind and body.
You will see how little disposed the County of
Leicester is, compared with the other Counties of
England, to give pecuniary support to a Reforma-
tory. They ought to be stirred up by some eloquent
Appeal from a Lawyer, Clergyman, or Layman.
^200 per annum more is wanted. Mr. Young
undertakes the responsibility of superintending 25
boys — not more, on account of other duties, and, I
am sorry to say, delicate health. But with a power-
ful Master, an Ex-Director would be less needed.
Yours very truly, A. J. Noel Byron.
Mrs. Follen declares that the Southern States are
not serious in the threat of War, because they know
it would raise the Slave population.
Lady Byron
To Vere Foster.
February 28, 1856.
I see that the next Reformatory meeting is to be
on the 1 st. Shall you attend? I want to find out
what course the R. Catholics are taking. Patrick
Murray, Catholic Publisher, has just- published a
pamphlet, which I like, in their favour. As regards
Ireland, if there should be a R. Catholic Association
in Leicester, I should be inclined to subscribe a
460 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
trifle to it as a Testimony. I did not consider it a
Theological question.
Lady Byron
To Vere Foster.
March 18, 1856.
Your letter received to-day contains much which
is not only very interesting to me, but which can be
turned to good account. ... Mr Young is to
preach the Visitation Sermon at Leicester, and he
means to include the subject of Reformatories. The
Rev. Charles Rattcliffe of that County has sent me
a pamphlet advocating that object, and addressed to
Lord Calthorpe — not very clever. I have no confi-
dence in Reformatories for Adults in the heart of a
Town.
Have you heard of the attempt made by Mr. C.
Buxton in Spitalfields to withdraw the people from
the Public House on Sunday evenings by opening a
room where they will find amusing occupation? I
have been talking to some of those best acquainted
with the condition of the working class only just
above pauperism about the means of affording them
some relief on Sunday without leaving them more
money to spend at the Public House after receiving
their wages on Saturday. This is what I would do,
if it could be made practicable.
On condition of their paying into a deposit Fund,
the accumulation of which should belong to them at
a certain period — so many pence or farthings, on
FROM LADY BYRON. \6l
Saturday they should find ready-dressed for them
a Sunday's dinner, to be taken from the Kitchen
(wherever appointed) to their homes by Family Men
or Women, and perhaps eaten on the spot by the
aged or infirm Single. I see these advantages in
the plan :
i. Relieving the Poor from preparations for the
meal and by the service of the Rich — a bond of
Union.
2. Obviating the Sunday's dealings with Bakers,
&c, which many, and I also, think better avoided.
3. Giving to the day an association with Charity,
which it has not either in the R. Catholic Church or
ours. Perhaps you would accept an invitation from
me, as I should have a room to spare next week,
before you go to Ireland.
I am much gratified by Mr. Ross's engagement
to a daughter of the well known Sterling, whose
life was written by Carlisle — a very superior young
woman, and calculated to be a real Help-mate. I
have borne the severe weather tolerably.
P.S. — I must communicate to you an idea sug-
gested to me by Mr. Ross, that in order to obviate
the reasonable objection to having places of amuse-
ment and instruction open on the Sabbath, namely,
the hardship upon the door-keepers, &c, there
should be Sunday Volunteers for that office. . . .
462 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Lady Byron
To Vere Foster.
March 28, 1856.
The " Five Points" which I send is chiefly an
Appeal for pecuniary aid, and ought to be met. I
should like to entrust to you when you go to New
York any larger contribution in order to be sure of
its proper application, but I will remit a Subscription
through Mrs. Follen now. I must also trouble you
with money for the postage and purchase in the
United States of any printed reports, &c, which
might serve my objects here.
I shall have copied for you a sad report of the
Peckleton Reformatory, adding another proof of the
folly of attempting reformation by the stern retribu-
tive course such as the Leicester Magistrates require
of the Schoolmaster. Amongst the indirect mischief
of Executions is to be reckoned their charm for
Law-breakers, to whom what " some deem danger is
delight ". I doubt whether the Reformatory can
succeed under the direction of such Magistrates.
Mr. Young himself is too timid and despondent. . . .
Lady Byron
To Vere Foster.
Ham, May 5, 1856.
I sent to ask you to stay to see Lady Annabella,
who was expected.
Ockham can't go to the United States, but I have
FROM LADY BYRON. 463
an idea that I can get him, though only on condition
of working, on board the Atlantic Cable vessel.
Ask him if he would like it.
You want a Tour without an object, if possible;
but I suppose it must be to the Moon. Lord P.1
won't be allowed to resign by the People.
Lady Byron
To Vere Foster.
Brighton, May 13, 1856.
. . . I shall be glad to hear what success you
have met with in the Girls' Emigration scheme.
The value of that article will, I hope, rise in the
market in consequence. Believe me, always truly
yours.
Lady Byron
To Vere Foster.
Brighton, June 14, 1856.
Dear Mr. Foster, — I am just going to London,
No. 4 Cavendish Square, till the 25th inst, and then
No. 1 Cambridge Terrace, Regent's Park, a house
which I have taken for the summer, thinking it a
happy medium between town and country; and when
I am tired of my fellow creatures I can find society
almost as rational in the Zoological Gardens. I may
well say this after reading what you have to endure
from the folly of those who prove their knowledge
1Lord P. — Viscount Palmerston, Prime Minister from 1855 to 1858, and again
from 1859 till his death in 1865 (1784-1865).
464 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
of God by their ignorance of Man! At the same
time I am hearing how Mr. Young is reviled in
Leicestershire, and excluded from the Reformatory
as a Papist in disguise. A man's religion seems every-
where to be his neighbour's business, not his own.
Do not for want of ,£5, which I shall be happy to
give for such a purpose, allow any Emigrant in real
need to lose the passage. "The Philanthropist"
paper must be given up for want of funds. Believe
me, yours very truly, A. J. Noel Byron.
Lady Byron
To Vere Foster.
Ham Common, March 18, 1857.
The wish expressed by Mr. West that I should
see the printed paper containing his views makes it
less presumptuous than it would otherwise be on my
part to offer some remarks. I do not know whether
you are aware that, notwithstanding my personal
intimacy with some of the Abolitionists, I have
scrupulously avoided any appearance of concurring
in their -mode of action. It has appeared to me too
vehemently antagonistic; but I own that since I have
known the cruel course pursued by Slave Owners
towards Opponents who had not provoked them
by any kind of hostility beyond the simple expression
of Dissent, I have doubted whether that opinion of
mine were not a mistake. It is of little moment
whether it be so or not.
As to Mr. West's plan, the chief feature of which,
the Emancipation of the Unborn, presumes their
FROM LADY BYRON. 465
Parents to remain in Slavery. We, in England,
should think it rather strange if the Owners of Cotton
Mills or Collieries, so ill-managed as to shorten the
lives or injure the powers of the men employed in
them, were merely to give security to those workmen
that such evils should not descend to their Children.
I sympathize with the living more than with the
future generation. The social condition under which
the Children of the next twenty years may be born
will in all probability be so changed as to frustrate
our plans for them, but our Cotemporaries belong to
us, as part of the World's Common Weal. Ameliora-
tions long talked of are less likely than ever to be
carried into effect under the mutual exasperation of
Masters and Slaves, and also with the new views
promulgated as to the Servile position.
What is to be hoped for? What can be done for
the redress or mitigation of actual wrongs? Provi-
dence must show the way, either through the agency
of some unforeseen political convulsion, or through
the influence of some Master-mind. In the mean
time let Right Thought spread as widely as possible,
supported by Right Action only when a conflict with
Wrong Action is inevitable. Oppression has, I fear,
never yet been remedied peacefully. The Host must
perish in the Red Sea. It was their own doing,
however, rather than that of Moses. I quite enter
into the horror of civil discord felt by Mr. West.
Some American Authorities have contended that
more decision on the part of the North would pre-
vent it. Believe me, yours very truly,
A. J. Noel Byron.
466 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Lady Byron
To Vere Foster.
March 25, 1857.
Next month I hope to say something better of
myself than I can at present. Happily I can enter
into distant interests as well when I am bed-ridden
as at any other time, and feel great pleasure in the
continued success of your endeavours1 for the good
of those who would otherwise, it appears, have no
helper.
I will send you some American papers. Is not
Buchanan's2 " Laissez aller" about the Slave Ques-
tion very favourable to the free cause.
Lady Byron
To Vere Foster.
Full text of a letter from Lady Byron, inclosing the gift of
two £20 shares in the Original Atlantic Telegraph.
February 1, 1859.
A bit of Waste paper. I hope Lady Albinia is
well; I am not.
1 Your endeavours — This refers to two special schemes carried out by Mr. Foster
from 1849 to 1897, in aiding the building, flooring with boards in lieu of damp
clay, or equipment of upwards of 2000 National Schoolhouses situated in every
County in Ireland ; and in assisting the emigration of honest poor girls between
18 and 30 years of age from the congested districts of the West of Ireland, with
the hearty co-operation of all the R. Catholic parish priests and curates without
a single exception, in addition to nearly all the Protestant clergy. More than
twelve hundred clergymen co-operated with Mr. F., and upwards of 25,000 girls
were so assisted, about one-tenth of the expense being met by subscriptions, and
the rest supplied by Mr. F. Owing to want of funds both these schemes are now
in abeyance.
* Buchanan— James Buchanan, President of the United States from 1857 to
1861 (1791-1868).
FROM LADY BYRON. 467
Lady Byron
To Vere Foster.
February 28, 1859.
I wish for your opinion on a question concerning
my eldest Grandson, and if you should agree with
me, I may ask some assistance from your kindness
in promoting the object by kindly communicating it
to him, as your representations would be likely to
have influence.
It is to bring him into Parliament for some Con-
stituency to which an Advocate of the Working
Classes would be welcome. On consulting with
some of Ockham's best friends, I find that this is
thought the only chance for changing his present
habits of inertness and self-neglect, not, however,
connected, as far as known, with any bad propensities,
and he has ceased to be intemperate. If, therefore,
at such a moment, a mental stimulus could be given
him, it might work probably; and should he not
have power to speak in Public, his lineage and pro-
spects would give a certain weight to his Vote
You will see in to-day's Times, what I had known
from a private source, that there will be an Election
for Greenwich in April. The proximity to Millwall
might be something in his sight, and the Voters are
very radical. Admiral Dundas, who was once the
Member, is said to have most interest there, and I
could obtain help from other (Metropolitan) Mem-
bers, but the difficulty will be to make Ockham enter
into the scheme.
468 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Trusting to your kindness, I send this long story,
which could not be shortened.
The Father will take no part. I would supply a
few hundreds.
The following copy of a letter, which purports to have been
written by Napoleon Bonaparte, has been found among
the papers of my father, the late Sir Augustus J. Foster,
Bart. It appears to have been addressed in the year 1 797
to Citizen Barras,1 a member of the French Republican
Directorate. I have not been able to authenticate it,
and insert it here merely in the hope that it may fall
under the notice of some one who may inform me of
its being a true copy of an original really written by
Napoleon. There are evidently some faults of tran-
scription, and one word in the copy I have is un-
decipherable. Vere Foster.
Belfast, January 1, 1897.
4 Vendemiaire.
Citoyen, — Je suis malade, et j'ai besoin de repos.
Je demande ma demission. Donnez la si tu es mon
ami. 2 ans dans une campagne pres de Paris re-
tablira ma sante, et redonnera a mon caractere la
popularite que la continuity du pouvoir . Je
suis esclusif dans ma maniere de sentir et d'agir, et
j'estime le coeur bien plus que la tete.
Bonaparte.
Je suis au desespoir. Ma femme ne vint pas; elle
a quelques amans que la retienne a Paris. Je maudis
toutes les femmes mais J'embrase de coeur mes bons
amis. Bonaparte.
L Barras — See Appendix.
APPENDIX.
(P. 5.) The Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry. — The
following obituary of Lord Bristol is taken from the Gentleman's
Magazine for 1803, p. 769: —
August 8. At Albano, near Rome, of a severe attack of the
gout, Frederick Hervey, Earl of Bristol, grandson of the first earl,
in which title he succeeded his brother, Augustus John, 1779, and
Bishop of Cloyne 1767, of Derry 1768, and a privy-councillor of
Ireland. He was born in 1730; educated at Mr. Newcome's
school at Hackney; admitted of Corpus Christi College, Cam-
bridge, 1747, where he took no degree; but the honorary one of
D.D. was conferred on him by mandamus. He was appointed
chaplain -in -ordinary to the king, and a principal clerk of the
privy-seal, both which he resigned when appointed a bishop. He
married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Germayn Davers, who died at
Ickworth, Suffolk, Dec. 19, 1800, by whom he had two sons,
George, late captain of the Zealous man-of-war, and Augustus John,
and two [three, V.F.] daughters, Mary, married to John, Lord
Erne, of Ireland, and Elizabeth, married to John Thomas Foster
[and Louisa, married to Lord Hawkesbury, afterwards Earl of
Liverpool, prime minister from 1812 to 1827, V.F.]. He was
among the leaders of the Irish patriots during the American war,
and a member of the famous Convention of Volunteer Delegates
held in Dublin in 1782 [1783, V.F.], on which occasion he was
escorted from Derry to Dublin by a regiment of volunteer cavalry,
and received military honours in every town through which he
passed on that long journey. His lordship was building at his
family seat at Ickworth a villa on the Italian model by Italian
architects and artists of every class, to which he had appropriated
^12,000 annually, and the ornaments of which are so tender
and sharp as to require covering to preserve them from injury by
the external air. As an amateur, connoisseur, and indefatigable
protector of the fine arts he died at his post surrounded by artists,
whose talents his judgment had directed and whose wants his
470 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
liberality had relieved. His love of the sciences was only sur-
passed by his love of his country and his generosity to the unfor-
tunate of every country; neither rank nor power escaped his
resentment when any illiberal opinion was thrown out against
England. In 1798 he was arrested by the French in Italy, and
confined in the castle of Milan; was plundered by the republicans
of a valuable and well-chosen collection of antiquities, which he
had purchased with a view of transmitting to his native country,
and was betrayed and cheated by many Italians whose benefactor
he had been. But neither the injustice nor the ingratitude of
mankind changed his liberal disposition; he no sooner recovered
his liberty than new benefactions forced even the ungrateful to
repent, and the unjust to acknowledge his elevated mind.
The Earl of Bristol was one of the greatest English travellers (a
capacity in which his merits have been duly appreciated by the
celebrated Martin Sherlock), and there is not a country in Europe
where the distressed have not obtained his succour and the
oppressed his protection. He may truly be said to have clothed
the naked and fed the hungry, and, as ostentation never constituted
real charity, his left hand did not know what his right hand distri-
buted. The tears and lamentations of widows and orphans have
discovered his philanthropy when he is no more ; and letters from
Swiss patriots and French emigrants, from Italian Catholics and
German Protestants, prove the noble use his lordship made of his
fortune indiscriminately to the poor, destitute, and unprotected of
all countries, of all parties, and of all religions. But, as no man is
without his enemies, and envy is most busy about the most deserv-
ing, some of his lordship's singularities have been the object of
calumny, and his pecularities ridiculed as affected; when the former
were only the effect of pure conduct, unrestrained by ceremony,
because it meant no harm, and the latter the consequence of an
entire independence, long enjoyed, serviceable to many, baneful
to none.
Do., p. 836. The late Earl of Bristol, when in Italy, distinguished
himself by a peculiarity of dress. He wore a white hat edged with
purple, a coat of crimson silk or velvet (according to the season),
a black sash spangled with silver, and purple stockings. It need
hardly be added, what was the fact, that the good inhabitants of
Naples and other places looked upon this fanciful suit as the cos-
tume of an Irish bishop.
APPENDIX. 471
The following is copied from Memoirs of James Caulfield, Earl
of Charlemont, by Francis Hardy, 1810: —
" If this work should chance to survive the present day, those
who come after may not be incurious to learn something, however
slight, of that singular man. He was the son of Lord Hervey, so
generally but so imperfectly known by the malign antithesis and
epigrammatic lines of Pope. His mother, Lady Hervey, was also
the subject of that poet's muse, but his muse when playful and in
good humour. Two noblemen of very distinguished talents, the
Earls of Chesterfield and Bath, have also celebrated her in a most
witty and popular ballad (see verses on Molly Lepel — Lady Hervey
was the daughter of General Lepel). Lord Bristol was a man of
considerable parts, but far more brilliant than solid. His family
was indeed famous for talents; equally so for eccentricity, and the
eccentricity of the whole race shone out and seemed to be concen-
trated in him. In one respect he was not unlike Villiers, Duke of
Buckingham. 'Everything by starts and nothing long'; generous
but uncertain; splendid but fantastical; an admirer of the fine arts,
without any just selection; engaging, often licentious in conversa-
tion ; extremely polite, extremely violent ; — it is incontestably true
that amidst all his erratic course his bounty was not seldom directed
to the most proper and deserving objects. His distribution of
church livings, as I have been informed, among the older and
respectable clergy in his own diocese, must always be mentioned
with that warm approbation which it is justly entitled to. It is
said (how truly, I know not) that he had applied for the bishopric
of Dublin, afterwards for the lieutenancy of Ireland; was refused
both, and hinc illae lacrymae, hence his opposition. But the
inequality, the irregular flow of his mind at every period of his life,
sufficiently illustrate his conduct at this peculiar and momentous
period. Such, however, was this illustrious prelate, who, notwith-
standing he scarcely ever attended Parliament, and spent most of
his time in Italy, was now called upon to correct the abuses of
Parliament, and direct the vessel of state in that course where
statesmen of the most experience and persons of the calmest judg-
ment have had the misfortune totally to fail. His progress from
his diocese to the metropolis, and his entrance into it, were perfectly
correspondent to the rest of his conduct. Through every town on
the road he seemed to court, and was received with, all warlike
honours, and I remember seeing him pass by the Parliament House
472 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
in Dublin (Lords and Commons were then both sitting) escorted
by a body of dragoons, full of spirits and talk, apparently enjoying
the eager gaze of the surrounding multitude, and displaying alto-
gether the self-complacency of a favourite marshal of France on
his way to Versailles, rather than the grave deportment of a prelate
of the Church of England."
(P. in.) Richard Brinsley Sheridan, the eminent Irish
dramatist, was educated first in Dublin and afterwards at Harrow.
He gave no promise as a boy of the brilliancy which he after-
wards displayed as a man, being pronounced a hopeless dunce by
all his teachers. He does not seem to have been brought up to
any regular employment, and after his elopement and marriage
in 1773 with a Miss Linley, a public singer of great beauty and
accomplishments, his prospects did not seem bright, more espe-
cially as he insisted on a point of pride that his wife should give
up her profession. As the readiest resource he betook himself to
literature, and in January, 1775, his first comedy, The Rivals, was
produced. Damned on its first appearance through certain de-
ficiencies in the acting, this piece on its repetition found gradually
the favour with the public which its wit and vivacity deserved,
and made the reputation of the writer. In the course of the
year following Sheridan followed up his success by a farce of no
very great merit, and a second comedy, The Duenna, among
the sparkling dialogue of which are interspersed some songs of
exquisite merit.
He now became partner of the Drury Lane Theatre, and in
1777 The School for Scandal was produced there. This, which is
by much his greatest effort, instantly leaped into the popularity it
has ever since continued to retain. His other works for the stage
were the inimitably clever farce, The Critic, in 1779, and, after a
long interval, The Stranger and Pizarro, in 1798, both adapted
from the German of Kotzebue. Leigh Hunt observes of The
School for Scandal that, with the exception of too great a length
of dialogue without action in its earlier scenes, it is a very con-
centration and crystallization of all that is sparkling, clear, and
compact in the materials of pure comedy. Through the influence
of Fox he was enabled to enter the House of Commons in 1780.
He gave a warm and consistent support to the Whig party, and
during the Marquis of Rockingham's administration held the office
APPENDIX. 473
of Under Secretary of State, but he possessed none of the high
qualities of a statesman, and as a debater he gradually degenerated
into a useless, though amusing speaker, familiarly joked at by the
public, admired but disesteemed by his friends. He never failed
to amuse the House, and when stirred by the trumpet-call of a great
occasion he was capable of rising to heights of noble eloquence.
In particular, his famous speech urging the impeachment of
Warren Hastings is still traditionally remembered as perhaps
the very grandest triumph of oratory in a time prolific of such
triumphs. (From Chambers 's Encyclopmdia and Beetoris Dictionary
of Universal Biography.)
(P. 123.) La Comtesse de la Marche was daughter of
Frederick William II., King of Prussia, and Wilhelmina, Countess
of Lichtenau, of whom the following account appears in Meyer's
Encyclopcedia, Berlin, 1896: —
"Lichtenau (Wilhelmina, Countess of), mistress of Frederick
William II. of Prussia, was born December 29, 1752, in Potsdam.
She died June 9, 1820, in Berlin. She was the daughter of the
musician Enke of Hildburghausen.
" The then Prince of Prussia, afterwards King Frederick William
II., made her acquaintance when she was 13 years old at her
sister's house, who was a dancer at the Italian Opera in Berlin.
The Prince had her educated in Paris and in Potsdam, where
intimate intercourse followed. Five children were born, who
received the title of Counts and Countesses of the Mark.
"In 1782 she was married to Rietz (Ritz), Groom of the
Chamber. When Frederick was crowned King of Prussia Rietz
was made Groom of the Privy Chamber. Although Rietz's wife
was superseded in the King's favour by the Countess of Voss and
the Donhoff, she succeeded in retaining his friendship till 1796,
when she received the title of Countess of Lichtenau, which
admitted her to Court. The King gave her also the sum of
500,000 thalers, several estates, and a dowry of 200,000 thalers
to her daughter, Countess Marianne of the Mark (a son, Count
of the Mark, died when nine years old) on the occasion of her
marriage with Count Stolberg. She retained the King's affection
and confidence, which she never misused, till his death in 1797.
" King Frederick William III. then arrested and opened pro-
ceedings against her, but nothing could be laid to her charge.
474 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Nevertheless she was kept prisoner at Glogau, only regaining her
liberty by surrendering all her property, in return for which she
received a pension of 4000 thalers a year. A marriage which she
contracted with the dramatic poet Holbein in 1802 was dissolved
in 1806. In 181 1 a portion of her estates were returned to her.
" See the Apologie of Countess L., edited by Schummel, Breslau,
1808, two volumes; the Memoirs put out under her name (1808)
are not genuine."
(P. 153.) Sir Augustus Foster. — Sir Augustus John Foster,
Bart., P.C., and G.C.H., of Stonehouse, County Louth, was born
in 1780. He was the second son of John Thomas Foster, M.P.,
and Elizabeth, second daughter of Frederick Hervey, third Earl
of Bristol and Bishop of Derry. He was educated at Drogheda
and Christ College, Oxford. He entered the army as cornet in
the Royal Horse Guards (blue) in 1799, and studied at Weimar
under Mons. Mounier, who afterwards became private secretary
to Napoleon. In 1803 he visited Greece in company with his
cousin John Leslie Foster and the Earl of Aberdeen. He entered
the Diplomatic Service in 1804, being appointed Secretary of
Legation at Washington. On his return to Europe in 1808 he
was appointed Charge' d'Affaires at Stockholm, whence he was
expelled by order of Napoleon in 1810. In February, i8ir, he
was appointed Minister to the United States, and on the breaking
out of war between England and the United States in 18 12 he
returned to England, and in 18 14 received the appointment of
Minister to Denmark. He remained at Copenhagen ten years,
and in 1824 was appointed in the same capacity at the court of
the King of Sardinia. He was created a baronet in 1831, and
after a residence of sixteen years at Turin retired from the public
service in 1840.
Sir A. married in 1815 Albinia Jane Hobart, daughter of the
Hon. George Vere Hobart, second son of George, third Earl of
Buckinghamshire, and by her had issue three sons, namely,
Frederick John, the Rev. Cavendish Hervey, and Vere Henry
Louis.
Sir Augustus died in 1848, and his wife Lady Albinia Foster in
1867.
(P. 156.) Lord Castlereagh (Robert Stewart, Viscount
APPENDIX. 475
Castlereagh, a celebrated diplomatist and minister), eldest son
of the first Marquis of Londonderry. He entered the Irish Parlia-
ment in 1789, although then under age. He was made Chief
Secretary for Ireland in 1798. It was the year of the Insurrection
and of the French Invasion, and therefore some allowance must
be made for the terrible severities employed by the Irish Govern-
ment; yet the cruel part he acted or tolerated in Ireland in
suppressing the rebellion and effecting the union always weighed
upon his reputation. He afterwards held the positions of Presi-
dent of the Board of Control in the Addington administration, and
secretary successively of the War and Colonial Departments under
Mr. Pitt, until the death of the latter in 1806, when he resigned.
He resumed the office of Minister of War in the following year,
and in 1812, after the assassination of Mr. Perceval, the Prime
Minister, he became Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the ministry
of Lord Liverpool, which post he held during the period illustrated
by the military achievements of the Duke of Wellington. "By
this time the general direction of British policy had become
unalterably fixed by circumstances, and Lord Castlereagh has at
least the merit of having pursued this fixed course with a steadi-
ness, and even obstinacy, which nothing could abate. He was the
soul of the coalition against Bonaparte, and it was only by his
untiring exertions and through his personal influence that it was
kept together." He represented England at the Congress of
Vienna in 1814, and at the Treaty of Paris in 1815. By the
death of his father in 182 1, he became Marquis of Londonderry,
but his mind became deranged, and he died by his own hand in
1822.
"This statesman, looked upon by one party as a paragon of
perfection, has been characterised by the other party 'as the most
intolerable mischief that ever was cast by an angry Providence on
a helpless people'." — Chambers's Encyclopaedia. 1769-1822.
(P. 185.) The Earl of Aberdeen. — The following particulars
are taken from Blackie & Son's Popular Encyclopedia :—
George Hamilton Gordon, Earl of Aberdeen, was born at
Edinburgh, 28th January, 1784. He was educated at Harrow,
and afterwards at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he
graduated in 1804. He had previously, in 1801, accompanied as
attache Lord Cornwall's embassy to France, which resulted in
476 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
the signing of the treaty of Amiens in the following year. Before
returning home he proceeded south to Greece ; and, after travers-
ing that ancient land with all the enthusiasm of an ardent classical
scholar, retraced his steps to England through Turkey and Russia.
Shortly after his return he established the Athenian Society, one
indispensable qualification for being a member of which was to
have visited Greece, and from this circumstance the epithet of
"Athenian Aberdeen" was affixed to Lord Aberdeen by Lord
Byron. As the result of his classical studies and investigations he
contributed an article to the Edinburgh Review on the topography
of Troy, in which he somewhat severely handled Sir William Gell,
and also wrote an introduction to Wilkins's translation of Vitru-
vius, giving an account of the progress of architecture in Greece,
an essay subsequently published in a separate form in 1822.
In 1806 Lord Aberdeen entered Parliament as a Scottish repre-
sentative peer, and in 18 13 was intrusted by the British govern-
ment with a mission to Austria, for the purpose of inducing the
emperor to withdraw from the alliance of his son-in-law, and join
the coalition of sovereigns against Bonaparte. In this responsible
duty, which was mainly effected through negotiation with Prince
Metternich, the young diplomatist acquitted himself with great
judgment, and entirely to the satisfaction of the government. At
most of the bloody engagements in Northern Germany he was
present; and from the experience thus acquired of the horrors of
war he appears to have imbibed that aversion to it which at a
later period exposed him, in his political administration, to the
charges of pusillanimity and want of spirit. On the termination
of the war he returned to England, and from this period till 1828
lived in strict retirement. In 18 14 he had been created a British
peer, in recognition of the services rendered by him in his
diplomatic negotiations with Austria. In 1828 he became Foreign
Secretary under the Duke of Wellington. He was a warm sup-
porter of the bill repealing the Test and Corporation Acts, a
measure effected by the ministry under which he served, and he
also advocated the bill for the emancipation of the Roman
Catholics. During the short premiership of Sir Robert Peel
in 1834-35 he acted as Colonial Secretary, and on the subsequent
accession of Sir Robert to the premiership in 1841, again took
office as Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Quitting office with his
chief in 1846, with whose views on the question of free-trade he
m*y
APPENDIX. 477
thoroughly coincided, he came, on the death of Sir Robert Peel
in 1850, to be regarded as the leader of the Conservative free-
trade party. On the inability of the Derby ministry to maintain
its place, Lord Aberdeen was instructed to form a cabinet, and
accordingly returned to office in 1853 as head of a coalition
ministry. The principal event which marks his administration
is the Russian war; but the tardiness which he displayed, and
unwillingness to enter into hostilities, the result of his constitu-
tional aversion to warlike measures, irritated the country. . In
1855, a majority of the House of Commons having decided for
the appointment of a committee of inquiry into the conduct of
the war, a motion which the Aberdeen ministry had uniformly
resisted, the resignation of the cabinet ensued, and Lord Palmer-
ston took the post of premier. This event marks the close of
Lord Aberdeen's public career; he died on the 14th December,
i860.
(P. 192.) Young Roscius (William Henry West Betty). His
grandfather and father were bleachers of linen at Lisburn, in
County Antrim. His mother was the only child of James Stanton,
Esq., of Hopton Court, Shropshire. She was a lady of good
education and high accomplishments. In the year 1802 the
celebrated actress, Mrs. Siddons, visited Belfast. Betty had never
before been to a theatre. He was so inspired with enthusiasm by
her acting that, on his return home from the theatre, he told his
father that he should certainly die if he was not to be a player.
He was then eleven years old. All his ordinary amusements
became wearisome and trivial, and henceforth the theatre became
the subject of his morning thoughts and midnight dreams. Mr.
Aikin, manager of the Belfast theatre, now engaged the boy
through his father for a nightly performance commencing August
19, 1803. During the next year, 1804, he acted in the theatres
of nearly all the provincial towns of the United Kindgom, cul-
minating in December, 1804, in simultaneous engagements at the
two great theatres of Covent Garden and Drury Lane, the receipts
of these two houses during the first four months of his performance
amounting to nearly ^40,000. On one occasion, on the motion
of William Pitt, the House of Commons adjourned to witness
his performance of Hamlet. He was usually called Roscius in
memory of a celebrated ancient Roman actor of that name.
478 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
During 1806 and 1807 Master Betty revisited all the chief
towns of the kingdom. At last, after three or four years of hard
work, during which the public interest was gradually languishing,
and it was recognized that a youth of sixteen or seventeen could
no longer be considered a juvenile phenomenon, it was announced
at Bath in March, 1808, that he was about to retire from the
stage, and in July of that year he withdrew altogether, and entered
Cambridge University. It is noteworthy that Mrs. Siddons never
condescended to act with him, saying that he was a very clever,
pretty boy, but nothing more.
On his father's death in 181 1, young Betty, then nearly twenty
years of age, returned to the stage, and was able to retain his
position as a clever and interesting actor for some years longer,
but in August, 1824, he made his positively last appearance.
(The above information is chiefly derived from a lecture delivered
at Holywood, County Down, by my friend, Mr. W. H. Malcolm,
of that town, in the year 1882. — V. F.) 1 791-1874.
(P. 222.) Caroline Ponsonby, daughter of Frederick Pon-
sonby, Earl of Bessborough, was married June 3, 1805, to the
Honourable William Lamb, afterwards Viscount Melbourne, Her
Majesty Queen Victoria's first Prime Minister. She became in
March, 181 2, passionately infatuated with Lord Byron, of whom
she wrote in her diary immediately on her return home after her
introduction to him that he was mad, bad, and dangerous to know.
He subsequently wrote of her that she was the kindest and ablest
female he ever met.
After Byron's rupture with her in 181 3 her temper became so
ungovernable that her husband reluctantly determined upon a
separation. While the legal instruments were being prepared, she
wrote and sent her first novel, Glenarvon, to the press. However,
on the day fixed for the execution of the deed of separation a
sudden reconciliation took place, and Lady Caroline was found
seated beside her husband feeding him with tiny scraps of trans-
parent bread and butter, while the solicitor was waiting below to
attest the signatures (see Torrens' Memoirs of Viscount Melbourne,
vol. i. p. 112). "In July, 1824, she accidentally met Byron's
funeral procession on its way to Newstead. Though she partially
recovered from this sudden shock, her mind became more
affected, and in the following year she was separated from her
APPENDIX. 479
husband." She died at Melbourne House, Whitehall, on January
26, 1828, aged 42, in the presence of her husband, who had
hastened over from Ireland. {Diet, of National Biography.)
Mr. Jeaffreson, in his Real Lord Byron, says of Lady Caroline
Lamb that " it is perhaps no extenuation of her most considerable
faults and follies that, in her fantastic and flighty way, she really
loved the poet whom she injured so greatly, possibly loved him
even when in her jealous wrath she was striking at him with the
vicious energy of an enraged tigress". 1786-1828.
(P. 292.) Lines on Charles James Fox. — On inquiry of His
Grace, the Duke of Bedford, I find that the lines written by
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, for inscription on the bust
of C. J. Fox, now in the Sculpture Gallery of Woburn Abbey,
were ultimately slightly altered, and therefore, by His Grace's
kind permission, I append the more correct version —
Here midst the Friends he loved the man behold
In truth unshaken and in virtue bold.
Whose Patriot zeal and uncorrupted mind
Dared to assert the freedom of mankind :
And whilst, extending desolation far,
Ambition spread the baneful flames of war,
Fearless of blame, and eloquent to save,
'Twas he — 'twas Fox the warning counsel gave:
Midst jarring conflicts stemmed the tide of blood,
And to the menaced world a sea-mark stood.
Oh ! had his voice in mercy's cause prevailed,
What grateful millions had the Statesman hailed !
Whose wisdom bade the broils of nations cease,
And taught the world humanity and peace !
But though he failed successive ages here,
The vain, yet pious, effort shall revere,
Boast in their annals his illustrious name,
Uphold his greatness, and confirm his fame !
— Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire.
(P. 445.) Count Capo d'Istrias. — Count John Anthony Capo
d'Istrias— a patriot, philanthropist, and able diplomatist— was born
at Corfu, Feb. 11, 1776. His family originally came from the
480 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
Illyrian town of Capo d'Istria, near Trieste, but had been settled
in Corfu for upwards of four hundred years. He began life as a
medical student, devoted himself to political life, and after having
held a high position in the Ionian Islands, entered the diplomatic
service of Russia. In 18 13 he became the minister-plenipotentiary
of Russia to Switzerland, and gained the favour of the Swiss by
advocating the restoration of all the territory which the French
had taken from them, and the re-establishment of Helvetian
independence. In 1814 he attended the Congress of Vienna,
and in the following year was the plenipotentiary of Russia in the
arrangement of the final treaty of peace with France. In 1822 he
retired from the public service of Russia and retired to Geneva,
whence he plotted the undermining of Turkey; and on the
separation of Greece from that power, after the battle of Navarino,
in which the Turkish and Egyptian fleets were annihilated by the
combined British, French, and Russian fleets, under the command
of Sir Edward Codrington, on October 20, 1827, he was elected,
in January, 1828, President of the Greek Republic for seven years,
but was by no means equal to the task which he had undertaken.
Everything was in disorder; the people had been long enslaved
and knew not how to use their freedom, and the President had
been so much imbued with the centralizing principles prevalent at
the Courts which he had frequented that some of his measures,
especially that restricting the liberty of the press, gave offence to
even the most temperate of the enlightened lovers of civil liberty,
and his career was cut short by assassination in a church at
Nauplia on October 9, 1831, the assassins being George, the son,
and Constantine, the brother, of Peter Mauromichali, against whom
he was urging on a prosecution for alleged offences against the
state. (The above information is culled from the following sources:
Encyclopedia Britannica, Chambers's Encyclopedia, Blackie's
Popular Encyclopedia, and Beeton's Dictionary of Universal Bio-
graphy!)
(P. 449.) Elizabeth Vassall Fox, Lady Holland, daughter
and heir of Richard Vassall of Jamaica, was first married in 1786
to Sir Godfrey Webster. The marriage was dissolved in June,
1797, by Act of Parliament, on the ground of adultery committed
by her with Henry Richard, Lord Holland, whom she married on
the 9th of the following month.
APPENDIX. 481
The following notice of Lady Holland is copied from the
Annual Register of 1845, Appendix to Chronicle, page 314: —
" The deceased lady played a very conspicuous part in society,
political and literary. Her great attainments, lively wit, her grace
and dignity, decidedly placed her at the head of Whig fashion. The
charms of the celebrated hospitalities of Holland House in the
time of its late revered owners have been made known wherever
liberal thought, literary merit, or eminence in the arts are to be
found. For the remarkable position occupied by her ladyship
during many years of those daily festivals in which genius, wit,
and patriotic hope were triumphant, she was eminently gifted.
While her own remarks were full of fire, practical sense, and nice
observations, her influence was chiefly felt in the discourse of
those whom she directed and inspired, and which, as she impelled
it, startled by the most animated contrast, or blended in the most
graceful harmonies. Beyond any other hostess, and very far
beyond any host, she possessed the tact of perceiving, and the
power of evoking the various capacities which lurked in every part
of the brilliant circles she drew around her. To enkindle the
enthusiasm of an artist on the theme over which he had achieved
the most facile mastery; to set loose the heart of the rustic poet,
and imbue his speech with the freedom of his native hills; to
draw from the adventurous traveller a breathing picture of his
most imminent danger; or to embolden the bashful soldier to
disclose his own share in the perils and glories of some famous
battlefield; to encourage the generous praise of friendship when
the speaker and the subject reflected interest on each other, or
win the secret history of some effort which had astonished the
world, or shed new lights on science; to conduct those brilliant
developments to the height of satisfaction, and then to shift the
scene by the magic of a word, were among her daily successes.
Habituated to a generous partisanship by strong sympathy with a
great political cause, she carried the fidelity of her devotion to
that cause into her social relations, and was ever the truest and
fastest of friends. The tendency, often more idle than malicious,
to soften down the intellectual claims of the absent, which so
insidiously besets literary conversation, and teaches a superficial
insincerity even to substantial esteem and regard, found no favour
in her presence. Under her auspices not only all critical, but all
personal talk was tinged with kindness; the strong interest which
482 THE TWO DUCHESSES.
she took in the happiness of her friends shed a peculiar sunniness
over the aspects of life presented by the common topics of alli-
ances, and marriages, and promotions; and not a promising
engagement, or a wedding, or a promotion of a friend's son, or a
new intellectual triumph of any youth with whose name and
history she was familiar, but became an event on which she
expected and required congratulation, as on a part of her own
fortune. If to hail and welcome genius, or even talent, which
revered and imitated genius, was one of the greatest pleasures of
Lord Holland's life, to search it out, and bring it within the sphere
of his noble sympathy, was the delightful study of hers. How
often, during the last half century, has the steep ascent of fame
been brightened by the genial appreciation she bestowed, and the
festal light she cast on its solitude. How often has the assurance
of success received its crowning delight amid the genial luxury of
her circle, where renown itself has been realized for the first time
in all its sweetness."
The remains of Lady Holland were interred at Ampthill,
Bedfordshire.
(P. 455.) De Fellenberg. Emanuel de F., a philanthropic
Swiss nobleman, who, after taking part in the public affairs of his
country during the occupation of the French, whom he did all in
his power to resist, retired entirely from politics, and devoted his
whole life to the cause of literary and agricultural education. In
1799 he purchased an estate near Berne, where he organized a
system of tuition, which was designed to show what education
could do for humanity. His life from this time is a continual
record of benevolent enterprises, labours for the diffusion of know-
ledge and improvement of the people. He possessed singular tact
in disarming the opposition of interested or jealous opponents,
and ultimately accomplished a large measure of success for his
favourite projects. (Beeton's Dictionary of Universal Biography)
1771-1844.
(P. 468.) Paul Count de Barras was a most prominent
member of the French Revolutionary Convention, in which he
voted for the execution of the King, Louis XVI., without delay or
appeal. He was appointed by the Convention Commander-in-
Chief in 1794, and was mainly instrumental in overthrowing
APPENDIX. 483
Robespierre and the rest of the terrorists. Being again appointed
Commander-in-Chief in the following year, he commissioned his
young friend, Napoleon Bonaparte, whose military talents he had
learned to admire at Toulon, to crush the Paris sections with
merciless discharges of artillery. He next became a member of
the Directory, consisting of five members, and appointed Napoleon
Commander-in-Chief of the army in Italy, and a few days after-
wards arranged the marriage of Napoleon with the widow Beau-
harnais.
On the overthrow of the Directory by Napoleon, on the 18th
Brumaire (Nov. 9), 1799, Barras retired into private life. . . .
175S-1829.
INDEX.
Abbot, Mr., Speaker of the House of
Commons, 214.
Abercorn, Lady, 207, 234.
Abercromie, Colonel, 284.
Aberdeen, Earl of, 193, 209, 210, 211,
215, 216, 217, 219, 220, 224, 225,
230, 232, 236, 248, 257, 262, 284,
390, 405 ; Appendix, 475 ; letter to
Augustus Foster, 185, 187, 188,
190, 207, 213, 241, 248, 305, 356,
442.
— Lady, 236, 310, 443.
A'Court, 429.
Ada, Lord Byron's daughter (after-
wards Lady Lovelace), 430.
Adair, 418.
Addington, Henry A., 167, 194 ("the
Doctor"), 196, 219, 341.
Aix, Archbishop of, 179, 181.
Alexander, Emperor of Russia, 109,
261, 274, 311, 328, 382, 384, 390,
402, 443.
Allecetas, Marquis d', 398.
Alten Kirchen, 129.
Americans and American affairs, let-
ters from Augustus Foster, 203, 206,
226, 229, 239, 246, &c.
Arena, attempts life of Bonaparte,
159-
Armfelt, Baron d', 172, 323, 375;
letter to Augustus Foster, 328.
Ashburner, Mrs., 88, 106.
Atholl, Duke of, 189.
Atlee, Mr., 458.
Auckland, Lord, 271, 325, 326.
Augereau, Field-Marshal, 380, 383,
4°3-
Augusta, sister of George III., 8.
Augustenbourg, Prince of, 335.
Augustus, Prince, of Saxe-Coburg,
8, 22.
Austria, Emperor of, 261, 381, 382.
Avondale, Lord, 418.
Bagot, Charles, 339.
Baird, General, 314, 316.
Bajocchi, Madame, 412.
Banks, Mr., 358, 363.
Banks, Sir Joseph, 165.
Barham, Lord, 232.
Barmeath, 104.
Barnard, Hon. Henry, 453.
— Lord, 354.
Barras, letter from Napoleon Bona-
parte, 468.
— Paul Count de, Appendix, 482.
Barry, Mrs., 196.
Batoni, Pompeo, no, 118.
Bayley, Dean, 40.
Beauharnais, Eugene, 382.
Beauvale, Lord, 450.
Bellasyse, Mr. (Lord Bolingbroke),
239-
Bellew, Miss, 28, 109.
— Mrs., 113.
Benixin (Bennigsen), 170.
Bennet, Mr., 218, 230.
Bentinck, Lord W., 333, 342.
Beresford, Viscount, 327.
Bergamo, 434.
Berkeley, Lady, 67.
Bernadotte, 388, 389, 390, 391.
Bernis, Cardinal de, 33, 34, 38, 78,
107, 108.
Berri, Duke of, 385.
Berthier, General (Marshal), 153, 383.
486
INDEX.
Bertin, Mademoiselle, 88.
Bertrand, General, 384, 396.
— Madame, 408.
Bessborough, Earl of, II.
— Lady, 163, 195, 223, 285, 288, 317,
334. 376, 393. 438. 44°-
Betty, William Henry West (Young
Roscius), Appendix, 477. See
Roscius.
Billington, Mrs., 304.
Birbeck, Madame, 102.
Bishop of Derry. See BRISTOL,
Earl of.
Bishopswerder, Hans Rodolph, 137.
Bittio, 28, 35, 46.
Blackall, Miss, 40.
Blake, General, 313, 314, 354.
Blane, Sir Gilbert, 209.
Blayden, Mr., 164.
Blayney, Lord, 171.
Blucher, Marshal, 383, 406.
Bolingbroke, Lord, 239, 240.
Bonaparte (Napoleon I.), 159, 160,
164, 171, 172, 173, 179, 180, 192,
210, 243, 244, 255, 298, 306, 313,
315, 316, 318, 321, 327, 329, 331,
342, 346, 349, 360, 37S, 376, 379,
381, 383, 386, 391, 392, 393, 395,
396, 398, 400, 401, 402, 404, 405,
408, 410, 411, 412.
— Jerome, 206, 211.
— Joseph, 334, 345.
— Louis, 182, 424.
— Madame, 182.
— Madame Jerome (Miss Patterson),
197, 221, 222, 234, 294, 296, 297.
— Madame Lucien, 424.
Bond, Mrs., 4.
Borghese, Princess, 412, 423.
Boringdon, Lady, 203.
Bourke, Mr., 395.
Bourne, Sturges, 339.
Brand, Mrs., 109.
Brandenburg, House of, 141.
Bristol, Countess of, letter to the
Bishop, 81; letter to Lady Eliza-
beth Foster, 82, 83, 85, 88, 90, 94,
99, 103, 105, 108, 113, 142; letter
to Frederick Foster, 148; death of,
166.
Bristol, Earl of, Bishop of Derry, 2, 5,
7, 11, 18, 20, 24, 38, 43, 95, 106;
Appendix, 469 ; letter from the
Countess of Bristol, 81 ; letter to
Lady Elizabeth Foster, 78, 116,
119, 121, 122, 123, 124, 127, 128,
129, 137, 139. 143, 15°, 1S2; letter
to Mrs. J. Th. Foster, 14, 16, 22,
32> 34. 47. 55. 63, 65, 68, 72, 74.
— George William, Earl of, 32.
— Lady, Duchess of Kingston, 61.
— Lord, 206.
Brook, Lord, 219.
Brougham, Henry, 423, 424.
Brown, Dr., 299.
— John, 191.
Bruce, Rev. Sir Henry Hervey Aston,
126.
— Theo., 126.
Brunswick, Duchess of, 300, 311.
— Duke of, 9, 295, 299, 300, 330.
— Prince of, 9, 15, 20.
— Princess of, 8.
Buchanan, President, 466.
Buckingham, Lady, 32.
— Lord, 75.
Buckinghamshire, Lord, 219.
Buenos Ayres, 294, 301, 304.
Buonaparte. See Bonaparte.
Burdett, Sir Francis, 295, 310.
Burgersh, Lord, 327, 349, 385.
Burke, Edmund, 378.
Burnet, Bishop, 140.
Burr, Aaron, 297, 301, 302, 308.
Bute, Lord, 142.
Butler, Miss, 40.
Buxton, Mr. C, 460.
Byres, Mr., 107.
Byrne, N., 12, 30.
Byron, Lady, 412, 413, 415, 430; let-
ter to Vere Foster, 451, 452, 453,
458. 459. 460, 462, 463. 464. 4°6.
467.
— Lord, 352, 361, 362, 364, 375,
376, 378, 401, 412, 424, 438, 442;
verses addressed to Hon. Mrs. G.
INDEX.
487
Lamb, 374; letter to Elizabeth,
Duchess of Devonshire, 426, 436,
439; letter from Elizabeth, Duchess
of Devonshire, 439.
Byron, Lord and Lady, 408, 413, 414,
417.
Calder, Sir Robert, 235, 236, 238,
243-
Calthorpe, Lord, 460.
Cambaceres, 181.
Camden, Lord, 341, 342.
Campbell, Colonel, 385, 396.
Canning, George, 167, 196, 202, 203,
305. 3°9. 3IQ> 34i. 342, 343. 345.
35°. 356, 369. 44i, 444-
Canning and Castlereagh, 339, 340.
Canova, Antonio, 411, 415; letter to
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
419, 420.
Carlisle, Earl of, his lines on the
death of the Duchess of Devonshire
(Georgiana), 278.
— Lady, 450.
— Lord, 376.
Carnival, description of the, 34, 35.
Caro, 218.
Castanos, General, 312.
Castlereagh, Lady, 326.
— Lord, 156, 308, 324, 325, 326,
345. 35°. 3S8, 388, 39°, 432; Ap-
pendix, 474.
Castlereagh and Canning, 339, 340.
Catalani, 303.
Cathcart, Lord, 249, 390.
Catholic question brought on, 354.
Catholic Relief Bill, 58.
Cattaro, the, to be yielded to France,
284.
Cavendish, Lord George, 309.
— H., 333, 345.
— Lady Harriet, 211.
— Mrs., 355.
— William, 355.
Charles, Archduke, 128, 255, 329,
33i. 332, 336-
Charles XIII., 433.
Chatham, Lord (First Earl), 47, 54,
58, 143, 148; (Second Earl), 158,
209, 337. 338, 339. 345-
Cherokees and Creeks, 258.
Chesterfield, Lord, 42, 212.
Chief Governor of Ireland, 79-
Choiseul Gouffier, Duke de, 410.
Christian, King of Denmark, letter to
Augustus Foster, 447.
Christophe, Henri, 250.
Cimabue, Giovanni, 118.
Ciudad Rodrigo taken, 354.
Civil war imminent in Ireland, 80.
Clarence, Duke of, 218, 352.
Clarke, Mrs., 320, 322, 330.
Clay, Mr., 254.
Clifford, Augustus C, 235, 256.
Closius, Dr., 14.
Cobbett, William, 202.
Cochrane, Admiral (Lord), 202,
310.
Coigny, Madame de, 388.
Cole, Lady Harriet, 231.
Congress, opening of, 253.
Constant, B., 404, 430.
Corda, la, 35.
Corisande ("Corise"), 173, 175, 182,
196, 203, 208, 213, 224, 231, 286,
3°7-
Cornwallis, Admiral, 236, 238.
— Lord, 212, 277, 291.
Corunna, victory of, 317.
Cosway, Mrs., 103.
Countess de Salis, Harriet, letter from
John Leslie Foster, 170.
Cowper, Lady, 106.
— Lord, 164, 171, 174, 195, 222,
224, 231, 3SS, 424.
Craig, Sir James, 355.
— Sir S., 209.
Craven, Lady, 97.
Crawford, Mr., his opinion of Roscius,
209.
Creeks, 258.
Creightons, Miss, 3.
Cromwell, Oliver, 143.
Cuesta, 335, 336, 337.
Cumberland, Duchess of, 182.
— Duke of, 269.
488
INDEX.
Curera, General, 329.
Cust, Mr., 171.
Danby, Miss, 94, 97.
Danoot, 31.
Dante, 118.
Dantzig, Duke of, 330.
D'Aumont, 403.
Davers, Sir Charles, Bart., 5, 82, 98.
D'Ellioto, 380.
Demidoff, 172.
Denen, Mr., 426.
Denmark, King of, 404, 406.
— Queen of, 372.
Dennel, Mr., 4.
Derry, Bishop of. See Bristol,
Earl of.
Dessalines, Jacques, 250.
Devonshire, Elizabeth, Duchess of
(previously Lady Elizabeth Foster —
see Foster), letter from Lord By-
ron, 426, 436, 439; letter from
Antonio Canova, 419, 420; letter
from Augustus Foster, 360, 365, 372,
378, 379, 380, 381, 38S- 387, 388,
389. 394. 395. 401, 4°3, 406, 407,
410, 411, 412, 414, 416, 418, 427,
42S, 429, 431, 432, 433, 435, 438,
442 ; letter from W. H. Hill, 401 ;
letter from the Prince Regent, 347;
letter from the Countess of Liver-
pool, 415, 417 ; letter from the Duke
of Wellington, 441 ; letter to Lord
Byron, 439; letter to Augustus Fos
ter, 341, 342, 343, 34s, 347, ,348
349, 35°, 35i, 354, 357, 361, 364
367, 368, 372, 375, 386, 393, 397
404, 409, 411, 412, 413, 415, 423.
424, 425, 441, 442; letter to Frede
rick Foster, 352; letter to Mrs,
Foster, 423; memorandum inclosing
copy of letter of General Moreau to
his wife, 377 ; memorandum inclos-
ing copy of the Emperor Alexander's
letter, 378.
— Georgians, Duchess of, 84, 85, 94,
96, 101, 103, 115, 191, 223, 256,
291; letter to Frederick Foster, 130;
poetry addressed to Lady Elizabeth
Foster, 131, 132; poetry on Lady
Elizabeth Foster (in French), 132;
poetry addressed to her children —
The Passage of the Mountain of
Saint Gothard, 133; poetry on the
Battle of Aboukir, 155; letter from
Charles James Fox, 184; poetry on
the death of James Hare, 200; Epi-
gram on the peerage, 201 ; lines on
the Victory of Trafalgar and the
death of Nelson, 252; letter to
Augustus Foster, 273 ; lines on the
death of, by the Earl of Carlisle,
278; lines on the bust of Fox, 292 ;
letter from R. B. Sheridan, m.
Devonshire, Duke of, 84, 101, 191,
199, 218, 223, 236, 256, 285, 286,
288; lines on death of Nelson, 252;
epitaph on Lord Spencer, 264.
Dicot, Mr., 379.
Dillon, Colonel, 36, 39.
— Henry, 196, 203.
Dillons — poor little Dillons, 87.
Dissenters' Bill, 78.
Dodd, Rev. Wm., LL.D., 4.
Douglas, Sir I. and Lady, 285.
Dresden, battle of, 376.
Drouet, General, 384, 387.
Drummond, Miss, in love with Young
Roscius, 207.
Dubelloy, Archbishop of Paris, 179,
181.
Duchess Countess, Lady Bristol, 67.
Duchess of York, 120.
Ducos, Roger, 159.
Dumas, Comte de, 400.
Duncannon, Lord, 203, 215, 230, 256,
296, 299, 310.
Dundas, Henry, Viscount Melville.
See Melville (Lord).
Durer, Albert, 118.
Elector of the Rhenish Palatinate, 20;
Elector's minister, singular ceremo-
nials, 20, 21.
Elgin, Lord, 138, 284.
Eliott, Lady, 97.
INDEX.
489
Ellenborough, Lord, 285.
Elliot, Mr., 137, 138, 168.
Ellis, Charles, 222, 251.
Elmsley, Mr., 423.
Engelstr6m, Baron d', letter to Au-
gustas Foster — order to quit Swe-
den, 346, 433.
Ermiskillen, Lord, 230.
Erne, Countess of, 2, 3, 4, 43, 68, 83,
15°. 157. 344. 369; letter to Frede-
rick Foster, 166.
— Earl of, 4, 43.
— Lord and Lady, 62, 64, 67.
Erskine, Mr., 286.
Eugene, Charles, 22.
Excavations at Rome, 425.
Exeter, Bishop of, 262.
Falkland, Lord, killed in a duel, 322.
Farquhar, Sir Walter, 121, 209.
Faucit, Col., 11.
Faukes, Mr., 296.
Fellenberg, Emanuel de, 455; Appen-
dix, 482.
Ferguson, General, 314.
— Mrs., 43.
Ferronayes, M. La, 427.
Finch, Captain, 87.
Fitz, L. M., 5.
— The, 40.
Fitzgeralds, Ladies, 213.
Fitzjames, M. de, 383.
Fitzpatrick, General, 193, 268.
— Mr., 202.
Fitzroy, Lady Anne, 158.
Fitzwilliam, Lord, 296.
Flahault, Monsieur de, 397.
Flushing, 333.
Follen, Mrs., 459, 462.
Foster, Augustus, 150, 171, 348; Sir
Augustus, Appendix, 474; Augus-
tus (afterwards Sir Augustus F.,
Bart. ), letter from the Earl of Aber-
deen, 185, 187, 188, 190, 207, 213,
241, 248, 305, 356, 442; letter from
Christian VIII., king of Denmark,
447; letter from Baron d'Armfelt,
328; letter from Baron d'Engel-
I str6m, 346, 433; letter from Count
John Anthony Capo d'Istrias, 445';
letter from Lady Elizabeth Foster
(afterwards Duchess of Devonshire),
153. 156, iS7> 160, 161, 167, 191.
192, 194, 198, 201, 207, 209, 210,
214, 217, 220, 230, 235, 237, 242,
243. 244, 250, 252, 255, 260, 261,
262, 264, 266, 272, 280, 283, 285,
286, 287, 292, 294, 298, 300, 303,
307, 3°9. 3». 312. 313. 3H. 3*5,
316, 317, 319, 321, 322, 324, 326,
327, 329, 33o. 33i» 332, 333. 334,
335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340; letter
from Elizabeth, Duchess of Devon-
shire, 341, 342, 343, 345, 347, 348,
349, 350, 35i, 354, 357, 361, 364,
367, 368, 372, 375, 38°, 393, 397,
404, 409, 411, 412, 413, 415, 423,
424, 425, 441, 442; letter from Frede-
rick Foster, 169, 290, 343, 380, 391,
395, 398, 400; letter from Georgiana,
Duchess of Devonshire, 273; letter
from the Hon. Mrs. Lamb, 279,
353, 373, 404, 4°8, 430, 434, 449,
450; letter to Lady Elizabeth Fos-
ter, 156, 159, 160, 164, 173, 176,
178, 180, 182, 183, 196, 203, 206,
225, 226, 232, 238, 239, 246, 253,
257, 271, 274, 276, 281, 290, 291,
296, 301, 308; letter to Elizabeth,
Duchess of Devonshire, 360, 365,
372, 378, 379, 380, 381, 385, 387,
388, 389, 394, 395, 4°i, 403, 406,
407, 410, 411, 412, 414, 416, 418,
427, 428, 429, 431, 432, 433, 435,
438, 442; letter to Frederick Fos-
ter, 229.
Foster, Colonel, 365.
— Doctor Thomas, 3, 13, 25, 104,
109.
— Lady Elizabeth (afterwards Duchess
of Devonshire), III; poetry ad-
dressed by Georgiana, Duchess of
Devonshire, to, 131; poetry by
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire,
on, 132; letter from Augustus Fos-
ter, 156, 159, 160, 164, 173, 176,
49o
INDEX.
178, 180, 182, 183, 196, 203, 206,
225, 226, 232, 238, 239, 246, 253,
257, 271, 274, 276, 281, 290, 291,
296, 301, 308; letter from the
Bishop of Derry, 78, 116; letter
from the Countess of Bristol, 82, 83,
85, 88, 90, 94, 99, 103, 105, 108,
113; letter from the Earl of Bristol
(Bishop of Derry), 116, 119, 121,
122, 123, 124, 127, 128, 129, 137,
139, 143, 150, 152; letter from
Edward Gibbon, 115; letter from
George, Prince of Wales, 279; letter
to Augustus Foster, 153, 156, 157,
160, 161, 167, 191, 192, 194, 198,
201, 207, 209, 210, 214, 217, 220,
230, 235, 237, 242, 243, 244, 250,
252, 255, 260, 261, 262, 264, 266,
272, 280, 283, 285, 286, 287, 292,
294, 298, 300, 303, 307, 309, 311,
312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 319,
321, 322, 324, 326, 327, 329, 330,
33i. 332. 333. 334, 335. 336. 337.
338, 339, 340; letter to Frederick
Th. Foster, 166.
Foster, Frederick, letter from Lady
Elizabeth Foster, 166; letter from
Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire,
352; letter from G. Thorwaldsen,
422; letter to Augustus Foster, 169,
290, 343. 380, 391, 398, 395. 400.
— Fred. Th., 44.
— Henry, 162.
— John, Speaker of Irish House of
Commons, 64.
— John Leslie, 177; letter to Harriet,
Countess de Salis, 170.
— J. Th., S, 24, 26, 31, 33, 39, 62,
75. 83, 86, 93, 109.
— Mr., 243.
— Mrs. J. Th. (afterwards Lady Eliza-
beth Foster — see above), letter from
Bishop of Derry and the Hon. Mrs.
Hervey, 22; letter from the Bishop
of Derry, 14, 16, 32, 47, 55, 63,
65, 68, 72, 74; letter from the Hon.
Mrs. Hervey (afterwards Countess
of Bristol), I, 3, 6, 10, 18, 25, 29,
38, 41, 45, 50, S3. 59, 61, 69; letter
from the Hon. Mrs. Hervey and
the Bishop of Derry, 34.
Foster, Vere, birth of, 428, 432; letter
from Lady Byron, 451, 452, 453,
458. 459. 460, 462. 463. 464. 466,
467.
Fox, Charles James, 199, 215, 227,
231, 236, 237, 266, 267, 268, 271,
273, 285, 286, 289, 293, 297, 300,
304, 449 ; Appendix, 479 ; letter to
Duchess of Devonshire (Georgiana),
184, 263 ; inscription for a bust of,
263; lines by Duchess of Devon-
shire on bust, 292.
— Elizabeth Vassall, Lady Holland,
Appendix, 480.
— Mrs., 273.
France, King of, Louis XVI., 78.
Francis, Sir Philip, 185.
Freddy, 432.
Fred the third, 37.
Frederick, Prince of Orange, 128, 129.
French Minister at Washington, 228.
Gamba, two Counts, 436, 440.
Gambier, Lord, 323.
Gardiner, Mr., 54.
Garrick, 209.
Garth, Sir Samuel, 118.
Gay, John, 118.
Gell, Mr., 313.
— Sir William, 187, 189, 190.
George III., 167, 168, 195, 218,267,
269, 347, 352, 354-
Gerard, 384, 387.
Germany, Emperor of, 64, 261.
— Empress of, 64.
Gibbon, Edward, letter to Lady Eliza-
beth Foster, 115.
Gifford, Mr., 9.
Gleadow, Mr., 48.
"Glenarvon", 418.
Gloucester, Duke of, 237-238.
Goderich, Viscount, 444.
Goethe, 161.
Gonsalvi, Cardinal, 412, 419, 425,
440.
INDEX.
491
Goodwood, 116.
Gordon, 406.
Gordon, Duchess of, 188, 211, 233.
— Mrs., 83.
Gore, Miss E., 157.
Gosford, Lady, 362.
Gosling, Messrs., 124.
Gotha, Prince of, 45.
Gower, Lady Charlotte, 213.
Graham, General, 350.
Grantham, Lord, 231.
— Lord, and Miss Pole, 213.
Granville, Lady, 334.
— Lord, 196, 249, 303.
Grassini, Josephina, 207, 263, 304,
393-
Grattan, 182.
Greene, Mrs., 6, 87, 94, 98.
Grenville, Lord, 141, 266, 267, 268,
269, 270, 272, 285, 291, 310, 340,
341-
Grenville and Fox, 267.
— Mr. T., 286.
Grenvilles, the king hates the thought
of them, 339.
Greville, Charles, 112.
— Mrs. C, 112.
Grey, Lady de, 444.
— Lord, 203, 215, 322, 325, 340, 341.
Hamilton, Lady Catherine, 224, 230,
241.
— Lord Archibald, 171, 324.
— Viscountess, 207.
Hamlet, 406, 407.
Hammond, Mr., 137.
Hanover, Chancellor of, 141.
Hardwick, Lord, 243.
Hare, James, 112, 199, 200.
Harrowby, Lady, 344.
— Lord, 195, 246, 331, 344.
Hartington, Marquis of, 288, 289,
354, 355-
Harvey, Admiral, 323.
Hatton, Lady An»e, 160, 163.
Haugnitz, 296.
Hawkesbury, Lady (formerly Lady
Louisa Hervey and afterwards Coun-
tess of Liverpool — which see), 150,
215, 219.
Hawkesbury, Lord (afterwards Earl
of Liverpool — which see), 131, 150,
156, 158, 167, 194, 195, 221, 225,
232, 268, 273, 309.
Hawkesburys, 157, 192.
Hawkins, Colonel, 258.
Henrietta, 71.
Henry, Mr., 363.
Hertford, Lady, 311.
Hervey, Fred., 93. See Hervey
(Lord).
— Captain Jack, 71, 78, 102.
— General, 90, 94, 157.
— John Augustus, 72.
— Lady, no, 150, 369.
— Lady Louisa (afterwards Lady
Hawkesbury and Countess of Liver-
pool— which see), 3, 13, 24, 25, 28,
43. 5°, 65, 69, 87, 92.
— Lord, 119, 122, 123, 125, 126, 166.
— Hon. Miss, letter to Mrs. J. Th.
Foster, 41.
— Hon. Mrs. (afterwards Countess of
Bristol), letter to Mrs. Foster, I, 3,
6, 10, 18, 22, 25, 29, 34, 38, 41,
45, 50, 53, 59, 61, 69.
— William, no.
Hill, W. H., letter to Elizabeth,
Duchess of Devonshire, 401.
Hillsborough, Lord, free trader, 75.
Hobart, Miss Vere, letter to Mrs.
Foster, 444.
Holland, 140.
Holland, Lady, 163, 266, 291, 449;
Appendix, 480.
— Lord, 266, 286, 363.
Hood, Sir S., 299.
— Sir T., 323.
Hope, General, 315, 316, 319.
— Mr., 425.
Hough, Mr., 202.
Howard, Charles, 449
— Fred., 312, 404.
— W., 299.
Howe, Lord, 157.
Howick, Lord, 291, 303, 304, 305, 309.
492
INDEX.
Hunter, Mr., 87, 88, 94.
Huntly, Lord, 333.
Huskisson, 339.
Hutchinson, Lord, 300.
Ick worth House, 116.
Indian Nations, 257.
Influenza, 61.
Invasion of Ireland intended, 57, 76.
Irish regiment in the French service, 48.
Istrias, Count Capo d', Appendix, 479;
letter to Augustus Foster, 445.
Jackson, Mr., 164.
Jefferson, Thomas, President, 197,
229, 308.
Jenkins, Mr., 107.
Jerome, Madame, 294.
Jersey, Lord, 423, 424.
Jordan, Mr., 194.
Joseph Napoleon, 345.
Josephine, 424; death of, 388.
Jourdan, Canaille, 180.
Kaufiman, Angelica, 218.
Keith, Lord, 158.
Kelly, Father, 64.
Kemble, Charles, 262, 263.
— John, 250.
Kemble and Mrs. Siddons, 250.
Keppel, Admiral Lord, 63, 77.
Ker, Lady Emily, 87.
King, Mr., 239.
Kingston, Duchess of, 63.
Korsakow, 427.
Kotzebue, 156, 160, 161, 162.
Lafayette, 430.
Lamb, Lady Caroline (Ponsonby), 222,
223, 232, 233, 242, 257, 303, 307,
354. 362, 364. 369. 376, 416, 418;
Appendix, 478.
— Emily, 222, 231.
— George, 310, 316, 345, 409.
— Hon. Mrs. George, letter to Augus-
tus Foster, 279, 373, 404, 408, 430,
434, 449, 450; verses addressed by
Lord Byron to, 374.
Lamb, William (afterwards Lord Mel-
bourne), 154, 162, 219, 222, 223,
249, 257, 299, 303 ; inscription for
a bust of C. J. Fox, 263.
Lambert, Chevalier, 47.
— Lady Maria, 242.
— Sir John, 38.
Lansdowne, Lord, 423, 444.
Lascelles' motion of public honour to
Pitt, 267, 268.
Lauderdale, Lord, 358.
Lawrence, Mr., 359.
Le Brun, 181.
Lecourbe, 399.
Leinster, Duke of, 80.
Lennox, Lord, 209.
Le Sage, Monsr., J. Th. Foster, 1.
Leveson, Lord Granville, 331.
Lewis, "Monk", 425.
Lichtenstein, Prince John of, 336.
Lilford, Lady, 449.
Liverpool, Countess of (formerly Lady
Hawkesbury — which see), 344, 380;
letter to Elizabeth, Duchess of
Devonshire, 415, 417.
— Earl of (previously Lord Hawkes-
bury—which see), 3, 317, 344, 350,
355. 363. 368, 389.
London, Bishop of, 417.
Louchee, 87, 94.
Louis XVI., 78.
— XVIII., 140, 380, 381, 400, 403,
429; deathblow to his hopes, 180.
Lovel, Mr., 139.
Lucan, Lord and Lady, 67.
Lucchesini, Prussian Ambassador, 172,
296, 299.
Lucien, Madame, 424.
Lucullus, 139.
Luttrell, 172.
Macartney, Lord, 117.
M 'Donald, Marshal, like Lord Mor-
peth, 181; report of his defeat, 349.
MacEgan, Governor, 64.
M'Intosh, Sir James, 378.
Mack, General, 244; taken prisoner,
245-
INDEX.
493
M'Mahon, Colonel, 358.
Maitland, Captain, 408.
Malmesbury, Lordj 139.
Mannheim, description of, 19, 20.
Mansbridge, Mr., 222, 233.
Marche, Comtesse de la, 123, 129;
Appendix, 473.
Maria Louisa, 388, 424.
Markoff, Russian ambassador, 172.
Marmont, Marshal, 363, 396.
Marsden, Mr., 251.
Marshalls, 109.
Martinetti, Madame, 437, 440.
Mary, Lady, 83.
Massena, Marshal, 181, 391, 392, 393,
395, 400, 401, 409.
Materosa, 328.
Meister, Count, 382.
Melbourne, Lady, 223, 224, 314, 335,
437. 44°-
— Lord, 223, 450 (2nd Viscount).
Melboumes, The, 162, 222.
Mellisb, Mr., 299.
Melville, Lady, 236, 262.
— Lord, 202, 210, 211, 214, 215, 216,
217, 218, 224, 225, 230, 232, 236,
241,262, 305, 368; party virulence
against him, 213; expelled from the
Privy Council, 220; to appear at
the bar of the House of Commons,
224; to be impeached, 231; pro-
longation of impeachment, 250; his
trial about soon to end, 284.
— Lord and Lady, 262.
Menou, 175.
Mercer, 190.
Merry, Mr., 196, 245, 275, 311.
— Mrs., 226, 238, 275.
Michael Angelo, 118.
Middleton, Sir Charles, 218, 219, 232.
Milbanke, Lady, 353, 368, 372, 373.
— Miss (afterwards Lady Byron), 348,
358, 360, 361, 365, 367, 370, 372,
373-
— Sir Ralph, 354, 373-
— Sir Ralph and Lady, 367, 370, 430.
Minden, 127.
Ministry, change of, 270.
Minto, Lord, 286, 450.
Miranda, General, 276, 284, 294, 297,
301.
Moellendorf, Count de, 137.
Moira, Lady, 60, 190, 368.
Monaco, Prince of, 397.
Monni, 380.
Monroe, Mr., 357.
Monson, Colonel, 212.
Montoro, General, 389.
Moore, Sir John, 316, 317, 318, 319,
321. 335-
Moreau, General, 128, 238, 243, 245,
246, 250, 276, 294, 297; letter to
Augustus Foster, 366; letter to his
wife, 376.
— Madame, 276; letter from Emperor
Alexander I., 377.
Morice, Mr., 87, 94.
Morier, Mr., 355.
Morpeth, Lord (afterwards Earl of
Carlisle), 163, 223, 289, 294, 295,
296, 299, 300, 303, 312, 325, 354,
376.
Morpeths, 195.
Motteux, Mr., 311.
Mounier, le, 159, 161, 389.
Mounier's son, 383.
Mountstuart, Lord, 73.
Mulgrave, Lady, 78.
— Lord, 106.
Munroe, Mr., 259, 274.
Murat, Madame, 182, 412.
— Marshal, 401, 404, 409.
Napoleon, 243, 385; description of,
164; letter to Barras (?), 468. See
Bonaparte.
— Joseph, 345.
Narischkin, Madame, 443.
Nelson, Lord, 182, 221, 224, 232,
235, 238, 241, 243, 244, 246, 249,
251, 256, 261, 265, 274, 277, 291,
298; death of, lines by Georgiana,
Duchess of Devonshire, on, 252.
Ney, Marshal, 244, 313, 329, 382,
400.
Noailles, M. de, 46.
494
INDEX.
Noel, Mr., 453.
Noels, the, 430.
North, B., 203.
— Lord, 77, 358.
Norway, King of, 246.
Ockham, Viscount, 462, 467.
Oldenbourg, Duchesse d', 328.
Orange, Prince of, 165.
— Prince Frederick of, 128, 129.
O'Reilly, Mr., 56.
Oriel, Lord, 64.
Ossulston, Lord (afterwards Earl of
Tankerville), 196, 203, 208, 215,
219, 250, 265, 286, 296, 303, 325,
326.
Oxford, Lady, 409.
Padre, the (Bishop of Derry), 5.
Paget, Lady Charlotte, 23 1.
— Lord, 90, 92, 331.
Pa-hu-la, 258.
Paine, Thomas, 139, 204.
Painters, 118.
Palafox, General, 319, 321.
Palladio's stucco, 117.
Palliser, Dr., 56.
Palmerston, Lady, 449, 450.
— Lord, 463 ; letter to Sir Augustus
Foster, 359.
Panisse, Comte de, 398.
Paris, Archbishop of, 1 79, 181.
Parkison, Mr., 91.
Parnello, M. B., 31.
Patterson, Miss, wife of Jerome Bona-
parte, 206, 297.
Paul, Emperor, 1 69.
Pauline, 387, 399.
Paull, Mr., 296, 299, 308, 310.
Payne, Mrs., 203.
Peel, Sir Robert, 429.
Pemberton, Dr., 415.
Perceval, Mrs., 365.
Percival, Mr., 303, 304, 305, 356,
358, 364-
Petty, Lord Henry, 214, 219.
Phipps, Augustus, 87.
— Miss, 36.
Pichegru, General, 245.
Pichon, Mr., 234.
Pitt, William, 106, 125, 152, 156, 166,
167, 193. IQ4. 195. 199. 202, 214,
216, 219, 220, 225, 241, 250, 261,
272, 273, 277, 291, 305; reflections
by Lady Elizabeth Foster on death
of, 266; the Duchess of Devonshire
(Georgiana), remarks about Pitt and
Fox, 273, 274.
Pitt and Addington, their reconcilia-
tion, 219.
Pitt and Fox, 231, 236, 237.
Pitt, Nelson, and Lord Cornwallis,
277.
Pitt, Thomas, 68.
Planta, 432.
Playfair, Mr., 423.
Pocahontas, the Indian Queen, 205,
275-
Pole, Miss, 213.
Polignacs, 97.
Pollington, Lady, 451.
Ponsonby, Lady Caroline. See
Lamb, Lady Caroline.
— Fred., 296, 299, 303, 304, 334,
364, 405, 408.
— G., 358-
— William, 341.
Poole, Sir Charles, 195.
Pope, The, sent to a hospital in France,
162.
Popery, cry about Popery raised by
the ministers, 309.
Popham, Sir H., 301, 304.
Portland, Duke of, 91, 101, 195, 341.
Portugal, the government about to
emigrate to the Brazils, 311.
Powel, Mr., 322.
Precy, 399.
Preston, Mrs., 31.
Prettyman, 202.
Prevost, Sir George, 356.
Prime Serjeant, 65.
Prince Augustenbourg, 335.
— Augustus of Saxe-Coburg, 8, 22.
— Frederick of Orange, 128, 129.
— John of Lichtenstein, 336.
INDEX.
495
Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, 414,
415-
— of Brunswick, 9, 15, 20.
— of Gotha, 45.
— of Monaco, 397.
— of Orange, 165.
— of Saxe-Gotha, 17.
— ofWaldeck, 8, 15.
— of Wales, 192, 194, 261, 311 ;
letter to Lady Elizabeth Foster,
279; (Regent), 358, 368, 406.
— Regent, letter to Elizabeth, Duchess
of Devonshire, Mr. Foster nomi-
nated Minister to the United States,
347. 348-
Princess, our, 11.
Princess Augusta, hereditary Princess
of Brunswick, 15.
— Charlotte, 415.
-of Wales, 195.
— Mary, 335.
— of Brunswick, 8.
— of Wales, 120, 285, 286.
Prussia, King of, 58, 120, 122, 137,
246, 298, 299, 381, 382, 385.
— Queen of, 298.
Pyrmont, 5, description of, and of a
good savoury oglio of society at,
15, 16.
Queen Caroline, 434.
Queen of Denmark, 372.
Randolph, John, 204, 259, 260, 274,
275.
— Mrs., 222, 223, 233, 260.
Raphael, 118, 122.
Rattcliffe, Rev. Charles, 460.
Reis Effendi, 183.
Rembrandt, 118.
Review of troops by Bonaparte, 176.
Reynolds, Sir Joshua, 420.
Rhodes, Mr., 299.
Rich, Mr., 28, 31.
Richardson, Mrs., 40, 55, 60.
Richelieu, Duke de, 410.
Richmond, Duke of, 116, 153.
Rivers, Lady, 94, 97.
Riviera, 398.
Robertson, Mr., 104.
Robespierre, the only great man pro-
duced by the Revolution, 379.
Robinson, Lady Sarah, 444.
— Mr. (Viscount Goderich), 444.
Rodney, Lord, 102.
Rogers, S., 352.
Rolfe, John, 205.
Rolla, Baron de, 337.
Romana, General, 316, 321, 323.
Roman Catholic Emancipation, 168.
question, 182, 358.
relief, 57.
Roman Catholics, 33, 34, 68, 75,
76.
Rome, King of, 388.
Rosbach, 127.
Roscius, Young (William Henry
West Betty), 192, 195, 201, 202,
207, 210, 218, 220, 225, 241, 250;
Appendix, 477.
Roscius and Charles Kemble, 262.
Roscoe, 309.
Ross, Lady, 40.
— Mr., 461.
Rousseau, Jean Jacques, 37.
Royal marriage, account of, 415.
Rubens, Peter Paul, 118.
Ruggerdorff, 323.
Russell, Lord John, 449.
Russia, Emperor of, 260; letter to
Madame Moreau, 377.
— Paul, Emperor of, story of his
murder, 169.
Rutland, Duke of, 312.
St. Leger, Mrs., 201.
St. Vincent, Lord, 161, 167, 168, 196,
219, 287, 323, 324.
Salis, Countess de, letter from John
Leslie Foster, 170.
Salisbury, Lord, 451.
Salvatore, 93, 101, 104, 107.
Sans Souci, 123, 129, 150.
Sardinia, King of, 399.
Saxe-Coburg, Prince Leopold of, 414,
415.
496
INDEX.
Saxe-Gotha, Prince Augustus of, 8,
17, 22.
Saxo-Grammaticus, 406, 407.
Scheldt expedition, 345.
Schiller, 161.
Scott, Sir Walter, The Lay of the
Last Minstrel, 210.
Sebastiani, Marshal, 334.
Selkirk, Lord, 286.
Seymour, Colonel, 341.
Shaftesbury, Lady, 430.
Shakespeare, 118.
Shanahan, 57.
Sheffield, Lady, 115.
Sheffield Park, 6.
Sheridan, Richard, 157, 158, 162, 185,
192, 296, 299, 308, 310, 358, 417;
Appendix, 472; letter to Georgiana,
Duchess of Devonshire, III.
— Mrs. R. B., 417.
— T., 296.
Shipley, Colonel, 328.
Shuldam, Lord, 86.
Sicard, Abbe, 260.
Siddons, Mrs., 250.
Sidi men ne melli, Ambassador from
Tunis to United States, 259.
Sidmouth, Lord, 231, 271, 347.
Sieyes, 159.
Sismondi, John S., 404.
Slave Market, Constantinople, 183.
— Trade, 263, 306, 307.
Slimness (J. Th. Foster), 30, 44.
Smith, Cullen, 158, 163.
Smyth, Dr., 42.
Smyth, Sir Robert, 42, 109.
Sneyd, Mr., 409.
Somerset, Lord Fitzroy, 401.
Sotheby, Mr., 423.
Soult, Marshal, 326, 330, 336,
368.
Souza, Madame de, 397.
Speaker, The, gave the casting vote,
214.
Spencer, Countess, 105, 310.
— Lord, 127, 153, 285; epitaph by
Duke of Devonshire on, 264.
— Lord Robert, 219, 337.
Stael, Madame de, 175, 378, 381, 390,
404, 410.
Stewart, General, 320.
Stormont, Lady, 33.
— Lord, 46.
Strahan, Sir R., 256, 271.
Strange, Mr. and Mrs., 28.
— Mrs., 44.
Strangford, Lord, 432.
Stratton, 249.
Stuart, Sir Charles, 381.
— Lord James, 444.
— Mrs., 97.
Sutton, Archbishop of Canterbury,
302.
Suza, 311.
Sweden, King of, 109, 246, 327.
Talavera, victory of, 334, 335.
Talleyrand-Perigord, 171, 177, 239
304, 380, 397.
Tankerville, Lady, 231.
— Lord, 211, 213, 231.
Temple, Lord, 326.
Thistlewood's conspiracy, 344.
Thornton, Major, 333.
Thorwaldsen, G., 414, 415, 423, 425,
431; letter to Frederick Foster, 422.
Tichfield, Lord, 342.
Tierney and Sheridan, 299.
Tierney, George T.; 190, 325, 337.
Titian, 122.
Toleration Bill, 64.
Toujour s Gai, 196.
Townsend, Audrey, 394.
Trimmer, Miss, 195.
Trotter, Mr., 216, 218.
Trumbull, Mr., 223.
Tunis, ambassador from, 255.
Turreau, General, in tears about battle
of Trafalgar, 276.
Ulm taken and Austrian army anni-
hilated, 244.
United States Constitution, remarks
on, 227, 228.
Usher, Captain, 389.
INDEX.
497
Valdagno, II, 16, 17, 25, 29.
Valencia, has fallen, 354.
Valentine, no.
Vane, Sir Harry, 354.
Vanoost, 32.
Varegas, 335.
Vaughan, Mr., 337.
Vemon, Lord Henry, 423.
— Mr., 334.
Victor, Marshal, 329.
Villeneuve, Admiral, and two other
French admirals landed prisoners in
England, 253.
Villiers, Lord and Lady, 203.
Voltaire, 36, 44, 200; four lines of
poetry, 29.
Walcheren expedition, 158, 160, 330,
33i» 333-
Waldeck, Prince of, 8, 15.
Wales, Prince of (afterwards George
IV.), 192, 194, 261, 311, 358, 368,
406 ; letter to Lady Elizabeth Fos-
ter, 279.
— Princess of, 120, 285, 286.
Wallace, 203.
Wa-Pawni-ha, 258.
Ward, Mr., 195.
Wardle, Colonel, 330.
— Mr., 322, 332.
Warren, Sir George and Lady, III.
Washington, Colonel, 233.
— George, 253.
Way, Abigail, Countess of Sheffield,
115.
Webster, Sir Godfrey, 163.
Weissenberg, 388.
Wellesley, Marquis of, 211, 265, 325,
331, 35°> 354, 358. 364. 368, 369-
Wellington, Duke of, 326, 328, 329,
33i. 336, 337, 338, 34i, 345, 354,
362, 363, 384, 385, 392, 405, 406,
411; letter to Elizabeth, Duchess
of Devonshire, 441.
West, Lady Mary, 451.
— Mr., 464.
Whitbread, Mr., 214, 215, 303, 319.
Whittington, 208.
Wilberforce, Mr., said the national
justice was satisfied, 215.
Wilkinson, Nurse, 12, 21, 30.
Wirtemberg, Duke of, 23.
Wollaston, Mr., 98.
Wolsey, Cardinal, 56.
Wortley, Caroline, 202.
— Mr., 368.
Wroughton, 193.
Wyndham, Mr., 284.
Yarmouth, Lord, 284, 303.
York, Duchess of, 120.
— Duke of, 158, 244, 269, 320, 322,
33°-
Young, Rev. Mr., 459, 460, 462, 464.
Zaragossa, 319.
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